Craig Kimbrel’s arrival in Kansas City looked like a move built more on reputation than current form. The Royals signed a future Hall of Fame closer who had already been cut loose by both the Mets and Rays this season, and plenty of fans had every reason to wonder what exactly they were getting.
So far, though, Kimbrel has answered with results that don’t fit the usual late-career script. In five appearances covering 5.1 innings, he has yet to allow a run. His line with the Royals sits at a 0.00 ERA, a 0.56 WHIP and a .071 BAA.
He also picked up save No. 441 in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Tigers, pulling him within 37 of Lee Smith for fourth place all-time. That kind of production is more than enough to qualify as a pleasant surprise, especially for a Royals team that has been putrid in closing out games in the ninth in 2026. And with Kansas City riding an eight-game winning streak, Kimbrel’s role has been part of a bullpen turnaround that has helped make that run possible.
Still, the numbers underneath the shiny surface tell a different story. Kimbrel is 38 years old, in his 17th major league season, and the decline has been building for years, especially since leaving Boston after the 2018 season and even earlier after departing Atlanta in 2014.
He was decent with the Rays, posting a sub-4.00 ERA in 18.2 innings, and he has looked excellent in Kansas City early on. But the warning signs are real.
His strikeout rate has fallen to 8.08 K/9 across all three stops this season, and it’s just 5.06 K/9 with the Royals. That is a long way from the 16.00-plus K/9 monster he was in his prime with the Braves and Red Sox.
The advanced numbers point in the same direction. Kimbrel’s 3.09 FIP with Kansas City and 4.16 combined FIP in 2026, along with a 4.23 xERA and .240 xBA, suggest this run is probably not built to last. His 11.3% walk rate on the year is also below average, which only adds to the concern about his command.
That’s why, as strong a feel-good story as this has become for the Royals, Kimbrel still looks more like a short-term boost than a long-term answer. Even with Kansas City’s bullpen in rough shape, owner John Sherman said in an interview a few weeks ago that young players would be a focal point for building the relief corps this offseason.
That might be the right call, and Kimbrel’s early success doesn’t really change it. He’s been a welcome jolt, but he isn’t a piece to build around.
In Other News...
Royals Fans Are Split Again Over Whats Happening In The Booth
The Royals TV booth has become one of the more unsettled parts of the season, with Ryan Lefebvre still handling play-by-play while the analyst chair has shifted around between Rex Hudler, Jeremy Guthrie, Eric Hosmer and Jeff Montgomery. Bridget Howard has also come aboard as a sideline reporter, adding another familiar voice to the broadcast mix, but the biggest discussion point has been the revolving door next to Lefebvre and what it means for the flow of the telecast.
Awful Announcings annual MLB broadcast crew ratings reflected the uncertainty, dropping Kansas City from 21st to 25th this year. Viewer reaction has followed the same split, especially around Hudlers high-energy approach and the rotating analyst setup, which has some fans appreciating the variety and others missing the steadier feel of a more fixed booth. [Read more 🡒]
Salvador Perez Just Earned A Place In Elite MLB Company
International signings have long shaped the modern game, and few have delivered more lasting value than Salvador Perez. Since arriving with the Royals, he has gone from promising catcher to one of the defining players of his era, building a career that now sits alongside some of the most celebrated international additions in baseball since 2000. His blend of power, durability and leadership has made him a franchise pillar and a face of Kansas Citys most relevant stretches over the past decade.
Perezs place in that conversation is even more notable because the company around him is so exclusive. The list includes names like Kenley Jansen, Jose Altuve, Shohei Ohtani and Ichiro Suzuki, players whose impact has stretched well beyond individual awards or big numbers. For the Royals, Perez standing in that group is a reminder of how rare it is to find a player who not only produces for years, but also becomes part of the identity of the team itself. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Fans Have An Early Prospect Name Worth Tracking Now
The complex leagues are where a lot of the industrys future starts to take shape, and thats why a recent scouting look included a few names worth circling well before they reach a full-season stage. Among the group were Rockies right-hander Gregory Sanchez, who flashed a high-velocity fastball and a promising three-pitch mix, along with a pair of recent high school draftees in Royals outfielder Dominic Battista and Rangers infielder Connor Comeau, both of whom arrived with the kind of tools and signing attention that make evaluators pay close attention early.
For Royals fans, Battista is the name that matters most in that mix, even if he is still at the beginning of the climb. In a setting built for young players to show flashes rather than finished products, the appeal is in tracking how those raw skills translate once the grind gets longer and the competition starts to sharpen. Its the kind of early prospect watch that can feel distant now, but often ends up mattering a lot once a players first real development leap arrives. [Read more 🡒]