**Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel for Assignment After One Game**

The Atlanta Braves made a surprising move on Saturday by designating veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment, just a day after his brief stint on the mound. The decision came following Kimbrel's season debut in Friday night’s 5-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Kimbrel, a 37-year-old nine-time All-Star, was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett prior to Friday's game after signing a minor league contract with Atlanta in March. In his single inning of work, Kimbrel threw 14 pitches, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one in a scoreless seventh inning.

Originally starting his professional career with the Braves in 2010, Kimbrel made a name for himself by leading the National League in saves for four consecutive years from 2011 to 2014. Over his career, he has accumulated 440 saves, securing his place as fifth all-time in this category, along with a 2.59 ERA over 838 appearances across 16 seasons with eight different teams.

Despite these impressive stats, Kimbrel faced challenges more recently. He struggled during the 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles, posting a 5.33 ERA over 57 games. However, in Triple-A this year, he showed promise again with a 2.45 ERA, giving up eight hits and four earned runs across 15 outings.

In a corresponding roster move, the Braves have recalled left-handed pitcher Austin Cox from Triple-A Gwinnett. Cox will take Kimbrel’s spot on the roster as the team continues its season.