After a relatively disappointing 2016, Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel returned to vintage form in 2017, reminding fans why he is one of baseball’s all-time relievers.
Through 69.0 innings, Kimbrel registered 126 strikeouts, good for a mind-boggling 16.43 K/9. He was absolutely unhittable, getting opposing batters to swing and miss at a career-high 19.8 percent rate.
His season culminated into a deadly 1.43 ERA, 1.42 FIP and a 0.68 WHIP, reminiscent of Koji Uehara’s dominant 2013 campaign. Racking up 35 saves, Kimbrel was a stabilizing force in the back of one of the best Red Sox bullpens in recent memory.