Braves closer Craig Kimbrel prepares to throw a pitch in 2013 in Atlanta. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
By AJC Sports
An old friend is back with the Braves, but he’ll have to earn his uniform.
The team has signed former closer Craig Kimbrel to a minor-league deal, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the AJC.
Kimbrel will begin his second stint with the Braves by suiting up for the Gwinnett Stripers in Triple-A. He’ll try to show he can help the major-league club.
Kimbrel has been an All-Star nine times in his career but is looking to extend his career at age 37. He pitched for the Orioles last season and went 7-5 with 23 saves and a 5.33 ERA.
He had 186 saves for the Braves in five seasons before he was traded to the Padres in 2015.