HANCEVILLE – Former Wallace State Community College pitcher Craig Kimbrel was promoted to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, marking the second time in as many years the school has produced a player in the major leagues.
Kimbrel was summoned to the Braves from Triple-A Gwinnett after starter Jair Jurrjens was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Kimbrel, who will pitch out of the Braves bullpen, struck out 21 batters and had a 1.20 ERA in 11 appearances in Gwinnett.
The 21-year-old Kimbrel joins Derek Holland of the Texas Rangers as the second Wallace State Lion to crack a major-league roster since last season. Holland, who won eight games as a rookie, is currently pitching at Triple-A Oklahoma City where he has a 4-1 record and a 0.93 ERA in six starts.
“It’s another reflection of what we are trying to accomplish at Wallace State. We want our student-athletes to graduate, compete for championships and hope we can further their careers,” said Wallace State baseball coach Randy Putman. “It’s great to see Craig Kimbrel make it to the big leagues. You hope that his success hinges on some of the things he learned here.”
The Braves have high hopes for Kimbrel. He was tabbed as the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season after finishing with 18 saves, a 2.85 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 60 innings with four different clubs.
Kimbrel has been compared within the organization to a right-handed version of Billy Wagner, the Braves current closer.
Kimbrel, a graduate of Lee High in Huntsville, was drafted in the third round of the 2008 draft after a stellar career at Wallace State during the 2007-08 seasons.
During his Wallace State career, Kimbrel went 9-3 with a 2.88 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 81 innings as sophomore and 8-0 with a 1.99 ERA as a freshman.
Under Putman’s guidance, Wallace State has produced 27 professional players, including three major leaguers (Kimbrel, Holland and Terry Jones). Before joining in the Lions in 1990, Putman also coached Jay Bell and Travis Fryman at Tate High School in Pensacola, Fla.
“When you see junior college players make it to the big leagues, it’s usually from schools in Texas, Arizona and Florida,” Putman said. “The recognition we’ve received over the last two years just proves that guys from Ohio (Holland) and Huntsville (Kimbrel) can come to our school and play in the big leagues if they continue to work hard, dedicate themselves and have passion for the game.”
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722 Direct line: 256-352-8443
256-352-8314 fax
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu
ACCC STATS
Cassie Daniels