Chicago Cubs registered a narrow escape win by 8-7 in the Major League Baseball against Cincinnati Reds on 27 July 2020. And Craig Kimbrel, who played the ninth inning, gave up two runs on four walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch over one-third of an inning.
The veteran closer was assigned with a three-run lead the ninth inning; however, he was unable to record the save. He threw only 13 of 34 pitches for strikes before Jeremy Jeffress bailed him out. Nevertheless, he got credit for the hold. During the game against Cincinnati Reds, he topped out at 97.5 mph with his fastball and plunked Freddy Galvis.
Until the sixth inning, Cubs led the game by 7-0 against the reds, and the score was 8-1 by the seventh inning, with the winning chances of 99.1 percent.
By the time of Craig Kimbrel's entry in the ninth inning, Chicago Cubs had a 54.8 percent chance of winning. And Kimbrel showcased a disastrous performance and turned out to be the main offender of the game.
See more about Craig Kimbrel below:
Craig Kimbrel's Contract And Stats: Salary Details
Craig Kimbrel signed a three-year contract with MLB's Chicago Cubs back in June 2019. Kimbrel agreed to a three-year deal until the 2022 season for $45 million. ESPN's Jeff Passan further mentioned that Kimbrel's contract with the Cubs has a fourth-year option as well. As per the contract, Kimbrel received $16 million in 2019, and he is entitled to the worth of $16 million in both 2020 and 2021.
The career stats of Kimbrel until the 2020 season from Chicago Cubs marks wins above replacement (WAR) ratio of 19.6 with 31 wins, and 23 loss. Similarly, he earned a 2.11 ERA in a total of 566 professional games that he played. Kimbrel made 346 saves during 553.2 innings, where he made 898 strikeouts and the WHIP ratio of 0..952.
Besides, The Athletic's Dan Hayes, the Minnesota Twins, had offered Kimbrel a two-year contract. The deal turned down as they were not willing to provide a third-year deal to the Cubs pitcher.
Craig Kimbrel in action (©: nbcsports.com)
As a pitcher in Chicago Cubs, Kimbrel earns the average salary of $14,333,333 that makes $15,925,926 as an annual income in 2020. Similarly, he will summon the worth of $31,925,926 and $32,925,926 in 2021 and 2022 season.
Previously, Kimbrel played for the Boston Red Sox from 2016 to 2018, where he garnered the annual sum of $54,150,000 in 2018, $41,100,000 in 2017, and $28,100,000 in 2016.
The 2016 season also led him to the knee injury, which required surgery. It needed six weeks to recover from his left knee injury, after which he made his return in professional baseball from August 2016.
While he was in San Diego Padres in the 2015 season, he made $17,050,000 per year. Similarly, he was entitled to an annual salary of 8,050,000 in 2014 with Atlanta Braves. He played four seasons from 2010 to 2014 with the Braves.
Before that, he played his college-level baseball from Wallace State Community College.
Craig Kimbrel Is A Married Man
Craig Kimbrel is married to his longtime love interest Ashley Holt-Kimbrel. Craig first met the love of his life when he was pursuing his academic and sports years at Wallace State Community College. Ashley was a cheerleader at college.
Craig Kimbrel and his wife Ashley Holt- Kimbrel (©: playerwives.com)
Their high-school love turned a massive jump to start a new life later. They eventually tied a knot on 1 December 2012. The couple is living their marital relationship for eight years, and yet they do not have any children.