Schedule Lining Up for Craig Kimbrel to Debut Against Braves at Wrigley Field
By Sean Facey
Craig Kimbrel seems to be in line to face some familiar faces in the near future.
If the Chicago Cubs' mid-season free agent signing is ready to go in two weeks, he'd be able to make his debut in his new threads against his original team, the Atlanta Braves, in his new home.
If Craig Kimbrel is ready for the @MLB roster two weeks from today, he can make his @Cubs debut against the @Braves, his original team, in the series at Wrigley that begins June 24. ? @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 10, 2019
An appearance against his former team would be a perfect way to introduce himself to the Wrigley faithful.
How likely that is to occur is dependent on how Kimbrel looks as he works his way back from his extended hiatus, though for a reliever of his caliber, he should be just fine (after all, he's been working out all along).
The Cubs have made it clear that they have no plans to rush the seven-time All-Star closer back to the MLB, though, so there's also a chance that a debut showdown against the team that drafted him won't happen.
Cubs president Theo Epstein says the club is "not going to rush" Craig Kimbrel's debut. https://t.co/ZJs8PCHam7 pic.twitter.com/Ey6wH5jMaP
— NESN (@NESN) June 9, 2019
Kimbrel spent the first five years of his career with the Braves, posting a 1.43 ERA along with 186 saves and 476 strikeouts. He finished in the top-10 in NL Cy Young voting every year from 2011 to 2014.
The way things are headed, he could have the opportunity to burst back onto the scene by dominating the Braves, after he did the dominating for them for so long.