PHILADELPHIA -- When Craig Kimbrel completed nine scoreless innings during his first Major League Spring Training this year, he impressed many with a rising fastball that can touch 97 or 98 mph. But after watching the Braves reliever make his Major League debut on Friday night, a pair of Major League scouts were raving about his breaking ball and debating whether it should be termed a slider or a curveball.
"I think it's a curveball," the National League scout said. "It's so sharp. It reminds me of the one that [White Sox closer Bobby Jenks] throws."
Regarded as a future Braves closer, Kimbrel battled some early nerves and completed a scoreless seventh inning during Friday night's debut. He surrendered a leadoff double to Jayson Werth, recorded consecutive strikeouts of Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz and then ended his outing with a Wilson Valdez groundout.
"After my first hitter, I settled down and knew I needed to pitch," said Kimbrel, who received his first call to the Majors on Wednesday. "I focused more on that than 'all right I'm in the big leagues now.'"
Considering that he was making this debut in front of a hostile, sold-out environment, Braves manager Bobby Cox said that he was pleased with the poise shown by the 21-year-old right-handed reliever, who entered this year with just 13 2/3 innings completed above the Class A level.
"I didn't know how many people were here until I got back to the dugout and looked up in the stands and they were cheering for [Jamie] Moyer," Kimbrel said. "I was like, 'Wow.'"
Article Written By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
