Cole Kimball
Encyclopedia
Cole A. Kimball is an American professional baseball
pitcher
for the Washington Nationals
of Major League Baseball
. A graduate of Hackettstown High School
in Hackettstown, New Jersey
, 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 amateur draft.
After being drafted by Washington, Kimball began his minor-league career pitching for the Vermont Lake Monsters
in the short-season 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. At AA Harrisburg, 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 at AAA Syracuse
. After 12 appearances, in which he threw 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.
Kimball was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays
on November 16, 2011. However, the Nationals claimed him back on November 18.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. A graduate of Hackettstown High School
Hackettstown High School
Hackettstown High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Hackettstown in Warren County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hackettstown School District...
in Hackettstown, New Jersey
Hackettstown, New Jersey
Hackettstown is a town in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 9,724. The town is located in the eastern most region of the Lehigh Valley....
, Kimball first attended St. John's University in New York, before transferring to Centenary College of New Jersey
Centenary College of New Jersey
Centenary College was founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church. Centenary has evolved from a coeducational preparatory school to a girls' preparatory school , to a Junior college for women , to a four-year women's college , to a coeducational...
and was selected by the Nationals in the 12th round of the 2006 amateur draft.
After being drafted by Washington, Kimball began his minor-league career pitching for the Vermont Lake Monsters
Vermont Lake Monsters
The Vermont Lake Monsters are a minor league baseball team in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League, affiliated with the Oakland Athletics. The team plays its home games at Centennial Field on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vermont...
in the short-season 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
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
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
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
, where he compiled a 6-8 record and a 5.05 ERA he was promoted to the Potomac Nationals
Potomac Nationals
The Potomac Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The Nationals play in the Class A Advanced Carolina League, and are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.-History:...
(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. At AA Harrisburg, 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 at AAA Syracuse
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
. After 12 appearances, in which he threw 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.
Kimball was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on November 16, 2011. However, the Nationals claimed him back on November 18.