Sometimes, we must be reminded that Craig Kimbrel is indeed a mortal man.
According to a report by Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald on Saturday, the Red Sox closer will undergo surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee and is expected to miss the next three to six weeks of action.
Craig Kimbrel to have surgery to repair cartilage in left knee. Out 3-6 weeks
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) July 9, 2016
Tim Britton of the Providence Journal adds that Kimbrel’s official diagnosis is a medial meniscus tear in the knee and that his surgery will take place on Monday. Kimbrel was apparently injured shagging fly balls in the outfield during batting practice on Friday.
Kimbrel to DL with left knee medial meniscus tear. Surgery Monday.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) July 9, 2016
Kimbrel injured knee while shagging during BP — second Red Sox pitcher to do so this season. "We can't put guys in bubbles," Farrell said.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) July 9, 2016
The 28-year-old Kimbrel had just been named to his fifth career All-Star team. He has saved 17 games in 19 opportunities for the Red Sox this year to go along with a 3.55 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched.
Coincidentally, the Red Sox just acquired reliever Brad Ziegler from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday and could stick him in the mix for save situations along with 41-year-old Koji Uehara.
Image Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
