Cole Kimball

{{Infobox baseball biography|

name=Cole Kimball

|image=Cole Kimball (cropped).jpg

|width=250px

|caption=Kimball (left) with the Washington Nationals

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|8|1}}

|birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 14

|debutyear = 2011

|debutteam = Washington Nationals

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = June 9

|finalyear = 2011

|finalteam = Washington Nationals

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Won-Loss record

|stat1value = 1-0

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 1.93

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 11

|teams =

Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2011}})

|awards =

}}

Cole A. Kimball (born August 1, {{Baseball year|1985}}) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals.

Career

Born in Brooklyn, Kimball moved to the Great Meadows section of Independence Township, New Jersey as a child.via Associated Press. [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/2011/11/cole_kimball_claimed_on_waiver.html "Cole Kimball claimed on waivers by Toronto Blue Jays"], The Express-Times, November 16, 2011. Accessed September 3, 2019. "Kimball, 26, appeared in 12 games for Washington last season, posting a 1-0 record with a 1.93 ERA over 14 innings, his first season in the Major Leagues. The Great Meadows, New Jersey native held opponents to a .174 average and had scoreless outings in 10 of his 12 appearances."Morrow, Geoff. [http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/08/commentary_cole_kimball_provid.html "Commentary: Cole Kimball provides the Harrisburg Senators serious attitude"], The Patriot-News, August 15, 2010. Accessed May 30, 2013. "Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Kimball lived in the New York City borough until he was 7. Then his family, including two sisters and a brother, moved to Hackettstown, N.J.... After college stints at St. John's University and Division III Centenary College, the latter just down the street from his Hackettstown home, Kimball was selected in the 12th round by the Washington Nationals in the 2006 amateur draft." A graduate of Hackettstown High School, Kimball first attended St. John's University in New York, before transferring to Centenary College of New Jersey and was selected by the Nationals in the 12th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft."Centenary's Kimball chosen by Nationals in 12th round", retrieved 11 January 2008 [http://www.skylineconference.org/News/cent/2006/6/6/kimball_nationals.asp?path=cent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422074548/http://www.skylineconference.org/News/cent/2006/6/6/kimball_nationals.asp?path=cent |date=2016-04-22 }}

=Washington Nationals=

After being drafted by Washington, Kimball began his minor league career pitching for the Vermont Lake Monsters in the rookie-level New York–Penn League. In five starts and eleven relief appearances, he pitched 34 innings, compiling a win–loss record of 1–4 and an ERA of 5.82.

Kimball remained with the Lake Monsters in 2007. He accrued a record of 3 wins and 6 losses and a 4.20 ERA over 61 innings, consisting of 13 starts and one appearance in relief. After an unimpressive 2008 season with the Low-A Hagerstown Suns, where he compiled a 6-8 record and a 5.05 ERA he was promoted to the Potomac Nationals (High-A) and converted to a reliever. His woes worsened, and although he saved 9 games, his ERA was 6.36.

In 2010, however, Kimball seemed to turn the corner. Starting the season at Potomac, he was 3-0 with six saves and an ERA of 1.82 before he was promoted. With the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, he continued to pitch well, earning 12 more saves to go with a 5-1 record and ERA of 2.33.

Kimball started the 2011 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Nationals. After 12 appearances, in which he threw {{fraction|13|2|3}} innings, without allowing a run, he was called up to the majors. He made his debut on May 14, pitching one scoreless inning.{{cite news | title= Cole Kimball makes debut in major leagues | date=May 14, 2011 | access-date=May 15, 2011 | first=Gene | last=Wang | series=Nationals Journal blog| newspaper=The Washington Post | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/cole-kimball-makes-debut-in-major-leagues/2011/05/14/AFTEik3G_blog.html}} He made 12 appearances for the Nationals before suffering a torn rotator cuff in July 2011. He had surgery, and missed the remainder of the 2011 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2013/02/12/cole-kimball-says-he-is-100-percent-its-like-i-never-had-surgery/ |title=Cole Kimball says he is 100 percent: 'It's like I never had surgery' |date=2021-11-27 |orig-date=2013-02-12 |author1=James Wagner |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}{{WaPoCheckDates}}

Kimball was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays on November 16, 2011.{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Kimball, Corporan, Rottino, Pascucci|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/yankees-sign-mike-oconnor.html|access-date=February 4, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 16, 2011 |language=en}} However, the Nationals claimed him back on November 18.{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Bulger, Carpenter, Kimball|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/minor-moves-lance-pendleton.html|access-date=February 11, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 18, 2011 |language=en}} He missed the 2012 season as he recovered from his injury.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2012/09/04/cole-kimball-to-continue-comeback-from-rotator-cuff-surgery-at-the-instructional-league/ |title=Cole Kimball to continue comeback from rotator cuff surgery at the instructional league |date=2021-11-27 |orig-date=2012-09-04 |author1=Adam Kilgore |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}{{WaPoCheckDates}} On July 3, 2013, Kimball was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2013/07/02/nationals-remove-cole-kimball-from-40-man-roster/ |title=Nationals remove Cole Kimball from 40-man roster |date=2021-11-27 |orig-date=2013-07-02 |author1=Adam Kilgore |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}{{WaPoCheckDates}} He elected free agency following the season on November 4.

=New York Yankees=

On February 7, 2014, Kimball signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Cole Kimball, Omir Santos|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/02/minor-moves-cole-kimball-omir-santos.html|access-date=February 11, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=February 7, 2014 |language=en}} In 18 appearances for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, he posted an 0-2 record and 4.73 ERA with 28 strikeouts across {{fraction|26|2|3}} innings pitched. Kimball was released by the Yankees organization on June 6.

=Camden Riversharks=

Kimball spent the remainder of 2014 with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 29 appearances out of the bullpen, he logged a 2-2 record and 1.91 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 2 saves over 33 innings of work.{{Cite web|title=2014 Camden Riversharks|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/stats_indy/2014~10598|access-date=February 11, 2025|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}} Kimball became a free agent following the season.

=Saraperos de Saltillo=

On April 28, 2015, Kimball signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. In 5 games for Saltillo, he struggled to a 14.73 ERA with 4 strikeouts across {{fraction|3|2|3}} innings pitched. Kimball was released by the Saraperos on May 7.{{Cite web|title=Cole Kimball Player Card|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/50077/cole-kimball/|access-date=February 11, 2025|website=baseballprospectus.com|language=en}}