The Philadelphia Phillies were busy over the offseason and addressed their bullpen needs by trading for Gregory Soto and signing Craig Kimbrel and Matt Strahm.
Kimbrel is a pitcher who appears to have potentially rediscovered his old form with the Phillies.
This year, the veteran reliever owns a 5-1 record and has an ERA of 3.60 in 37 appearances.
He also has recorded 13 saves.
Kimbrel has been a Rookie of the Year and is also an eight-time All-Star and three-time Reliever of the Year.
He even won a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
On MLB Network, former New York Mets General Manager Steve Phillips discussed the possibility of Kimbrel potentially reaching the Hall of Fame at the end of his career.
"If he gets back on track like this and can sustain it, I think he'd be heading to Cooperstown at the end of his career."
Craig Kimbrel has found his groove with the @Phillies, allowing just 3 ER over 23 IP dating back to May 9th.#HighHeat | #RingTheBell | @StevePhillipsGM pic.twitter.com/AjByH4M47g
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 6, 2023
Phillips talked about how the Phillies were struggling at the beginning of the season, but how their bullpen has been the driving force on this recent run.
At the beginning of the year, they adopted a closer-by-committee approach, which wasn’t working.
However, Kimbrel has taken the reins as the team’s new closer.
He struggled in the second half of the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Phillips discussed how those around the game learn more about closers when they lose games based on how they handle the situation.
He praised Kimbrel for not giving up after a tough stretch, and then made a bold claim, saying that if he continues at this pace and retains his dominant form, he could be on track for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown when his career comes to an end.
NEXT: Trea Turner Is Starting To Look Like His Normal Self
