Mets Stun MLB: 9-Time All-Star Craig Kimbrel Called Up After Dramatic Pitch Clock Incident

Veteran closer Craig Kimbrel is back in the big leagues, and this time he’s anchoring the New York Mets’ bullpen. The club selected the 37-year-old right-hander’s contract on April 11 after a dominant stretch at Triple-A Syracuse, marking his first return to the majors since last summer and making the Mets his 10th MLB team. Kimbrel wasted no time reminding fans why he ranks eighth on the all-time saves list. In his Mets debut at Citi Field, the nine-time All-Star fired a scoreless seventh inning, touching 97 mph and striking out two before walking off to a standing ovation. The outing not only preserved a 5-3 victory over the Phillies but also showcased the vintage fastball-curveball combination that once made him nearly unhittable in Atlanta, Boston and Chicago. Why the Mets need him now New York’s bullpen entered the second week of April ranked 28th in MLB with a 5.94 ERA. Injuries to Edwin Díaz (left oblique) and Brooks Raley (elbow) created an immediate need for a late-inning stopper. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Kimbrel will share ninth-inning duties with Adam Ottavino “based on matchups,” but industry insiders see the veteran taking over the closer role outright if he strings together a few more clean frames. Rebuilt mechanics, fresh results After a rocky 2024 campaign in Baltimore (5.33 ERA) that ended with a late-season DFA, Kimbrel spent the winter overhauling his delivery at Driveline Baseball. He shortened his arm path, added a sweeper and reported to Mets camp down 12 pounds. The early returns were eye-opening: 13 strikeouts and one walk across 8 ⅔ innings for Syracuse, followed by Saturday’s flawless first impression in Queens. A brief scare in appearance No. 2 Kimbrel’s encore on April 14 wasn’t as smooth. He loaded the bases on two walks and a bloop single before wriggling out of trouble with a shallow fly ball, prompting local headlines that the Mets were “this close to disaster.” Still, his fastball averaged 96.5 mph, and coaches chalked the command lapse up to adrenaline and the pitch clock reset. Chasing history in Flushing The Alabama native sits at 436 career saves—just 44 shy of Trevor Hoffman for second place all-time. If Kimbrel earns the lion’s share of ninth-inning opportunities over a full, healthy season, he could realistically pass Lee Smith (478) and begin closing in on Hoffman by September. The Mets haven’t had a reliever record 40 saves since Jeurys Familia in 2016; Kimbrel’s presence suddenly makes that milestone plausible. Fantasy and betting impact For fantasy baseball managers, Kimbrel’s promotion immediately boosts his value into the top-15 closer tier. Sportsbooks responded by trimming the Mets’ NL East odds from +800 to +650 after the transaction, signaling confidence that shoring up the bullpen materially improves New York’s playoff outlook. What’s next Look for Kimbrel to appear again during this weekend’s series against the Braves, the club that originally drafted him in 2008. A triumphant return to Truist Park would fuel an already compelling narrative: the former Rookie of the Year chasing historic milestones while stabilizing a contender desperate for late-inning consistency. Bottom line Craig Kimbrel’s signature stutter-step has returned to the mound, and with it comes the possibility of record-book intrigue and October baseball in Queens. If his arm—and the Mets’ faith—hold up, the flamethrowing righty could write one of the most intriguing comeback stories of the 2026 MLB season.