Jimenez is expected to mis the next 8-to-12 months while recovering from surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
This news came out of the blue for Jimenez, who was one of Atlanta's top relievers during the 2024 campaign. A timeline for his return should come into focus as he begins to progress in his rehab, but it appears he'll be sidelined for the first half of the 2025 season if not longer.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Secures third save
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Jimenez picked up the save in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Marlins, allowing one hit and one walk over one scoreless inning with three strikeouts.
After Raisel Iglesias pitched on three consecutive days, manager Brian Snitker called upon Jimenez to lock up the win for Atlanta. The righty reliever struggled a bit to secure his 23rd career save, requiring 28 pitches to polish off the game. He now sports a 2.25 ERA with 48:17 K:BB across 44 innings this season. Jimenez appears to be the next in line for saves in the Atlanta bullpen if anything happens to Iglesias given the usage pattern in this game.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Nails down save Monday
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Jimenez earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Monday, allowing one walk and striking out one batter in one scoreless inning.
Primary closer Raisel Iglesias worked the ninth and 10th frames, so Atlanta turned to Jimenez to close things out after the team scored in the top of the 11th. The veteran right-hander issued a one-out walk but kept Arizona off the scoreboard to earn the save. Jimenez has been one of Atlanta's top high-leverage options this season with two saves and 17 holds along with a 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB over 35 frames. Iglesias should continue to get the vast majority of the save chances moving forward, but Jimenez appears to be among the team's top closing options when the former is unavailable or used in a different capacity.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Tagged with loss in matinee
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Jimenez (1-1) blew his first save of the season and took the loss in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Padres, coughing up four runs on three hits and two walks in one inning. He failed to strike out a batter.
The right-hander entered a 5-2 game in the top of the eighth inning and immediately issued a four-pitch walk to Ha-Seong Kim, setting the stage for a rare disastrous outing. Jimenez has only been charged with runs in three of his 18 appearances this season, posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 18 innings with nine holds and a win as one of Atlanta's most reliable setup men.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Grabs second hold
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Jimenez struck out two over 1.2 perfect innings Sunday to record his second hold of the season in a win over the Diamondbacks.
The right-hander entered the game in the sixth inning and needed only 21 pitches (16 strikes) to carve up the heart of Arizona's order. With Raisel Iglesias unavailable after pitching two straight days, it was Pierce Johnson and not Jimenez who got the save Sunday, and the latter hasn't pitched any later than the seventh inning through his first four appearances this season. Jimenez has been sharp in his role, posting a 2.08 ERA and 4:1 K:BB through 4.1 frames, but he appears to be no higher than fourth or fifth in the packing order in the Atlanta bullpen.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: On track for setup role
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Jimenez struck out one in two-thirds of a scoreless inning of relief during Sunday's split-squad game against the Red Sox.
The right-hander has had a solid spring, giving up only one run with a 6:3 K:BB over 4.2 innings. Jimenez should be one of Atlanta's top setup men from the right side this season in front of closer Raisel Iglesias, and he's got a strong chance of topping the 13 holds he recorded in 2023 over 59 appearances.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Re-ups with Atlanta for three years
Rotowire
Jimenez signed a three-year, $26 million contract extension with Atlanta on Thursday.
Atlanta has now locked up two impending free agent relievers after inking Pierce Johnson to a two-year contract extension last week. Jimenez earned the new deal following an excellent 2023 campaign which saw him collect a 3.04 ERA and 73:14 K:BB over 56.1 innings. He is in line to help set up for Raisel Iglesias again in 2024.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Secures fourth hold
Rotowire
Jimenez struck out one over 1.2 perfect innings of relief Wednesday to record his fourth hold of the season in the second game of a doubleheader against the Tigers.
Facing his former club, the right-hander was dialed in as he protected a 6-5 lead, but despite throwing just 13 pitches (11 strikes) he was replaced by A.J. Minter for the final out of the game and missed out on what would have been his first save of the year. Jimenez was acquired in the offseason from Detroit to bolster Atlanta's high-leverage crew, but he fell out of favor after giving up runs in six of his first nine appearances in May. The 28-year-old appears to be turning things around, however -- he hasn't allowed an earned run in six straight outings with a 7:2 K:BB in 6.2 innings, collecting holds in two of his last three trips to the mound.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Activated from paternity leave
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Jimenez was activated Saturday from the paternity list.
Jimenez will return to Atlanta's bullpen ahead of Saturday's game against the Mets after welcoming a new addition to his growing family. The former Tigers closer has pitched well out of the gate this season for the reigning NL East champs.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Heads to paternity list
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Jimenez on the paternity list Wednesday.
Jimenez is off to a strong start to his first season in Atlanta, submitting a 2.25 ERA and 1.25 WHIP while striking out 10 over eight innings of relief and gathering two holds. Though Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) has been on the injured list all season, Jimenez hasn't factored into the mix for saves, as lefty A.J. Minter has instead emerged as manager Brian Snitker's preferred option for closing situations. Danny Young was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to give Atlanta another arm in the bullpen while Jimenez is on paternity leave, but the 28-year-old should immediately settle back into a setup role once he rejoins the big club at some point between Thursday and Saturday.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Option for saves in Atlanta
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Jimenez might get some save opportunities with Atlanta while Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) is out.
A.J. Minter might be ahead of Jimenez in the pecking order, especially since Jimenez has been eased into things this spring following offseason back surgery. The former Tiger is considered healthy now, though, and was terrific in 2022 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 77:13 K:BB over 56.2 frames. It's possible Atlanta doesn't settle on one closer while Iglesias is on the shelf.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Clean outing Saturday
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Jimenez struck out one in a perfect sixth inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
The right-hander was acquired from Detroit in the offseason to join Atlanta's set-up crew behind closer Raisel Iglesias, but Jimenez underwent back surgery last October and has been brought along slowly in camp. His Opening Day availability doesn't seem to be in jeopardy, however. The 28-year-old posted the best numbers of his career in 2022 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 33.3 percent strikeout rate, and Jimenez should easily be able to top last year's 11 holds with consistent high-leverage work for a much better team.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Healthy to begin camp
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Jimenez is already throwing side sessions and is expected to be fully recovered from offseason back surgery prior to Opening Day, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. "Oh, yeah, he's fine," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Thursday.
The right-hander had a breakout season for Detroit in 2022, posting a career-best 33.3 percent strikeout rate and 5.6 percent walk rate over 56.2 innings, but a lumbar strain ended his campaign a couple weeks early. Dealt to Atlanta in December, Jimenez should be one of the team's top setup men in 2023 alongside A.J. Minter, and he could get some save chances should closer Raisel Iglesias be unavailable at any point.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Avoids arbitration with Atlanta
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Jimenez signed a one-year, $2.765 million contract with Atlanta to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Acquired from the Tigers via trade last month, Jimenez is slated to help set up for Raisel Iglesias with his new team. The righty finally broke out in 2022 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 77:13 K:BB over 56.2 innings.
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Braves' Joe Jimenez: Acquired by Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta acquired Jimenez from the Tigers on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league infielder-outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy, minor league left-handed pitcher Jake Higginbotham and cash considerations.
Jimenez finally broke through for the Tigers in 2022, producing a 3.49 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 77:13 K:BB ratio over 56.2 innings. He figures to slide into a middle-relief role for Atlanta and will be arbitration eligible for a final time this winter.
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Tigers' Joe Jimenez: Expected back for spring training
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Jimenez (back) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Jimenez closed the 2022 campaign on the 15-day injured list with a right lumbar spine strain before the Tigers reinstated him one day after the regular season ended. He's still not fully healthy, however, as he's spent the past month focusing on strengthening his core muscles to regain stability in his spine. Jimenez should start throwing later this winter and will likely enter the spring with no restrictions, but it's unclear if he'll be joining the Tigers for camp. The team will first have to decide whether or not to extend Jimenez a contract for 2023 prior to the Nov. 18 tender deadline.
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Tigers' Joe Jimenez: Won't need surgery
Rotowire
Jimenez's back injury won't require surgery, so the righty expects to be ready for the start of spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Jimenez had the best season of his career this year, with his 3.49 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 5.6 percent walk rate representing career lows while his 33.3 percent strikeout rate stands as a career high. His year ended slightly prematurely due to a lumbar spine strain, but the issue isn't expected to carry over into next season.
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Tigers' Joe Jimenez: Heads to injured list
Rotowire
Jimenez was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right lumbar spine strain Saturday.
Jimenez had a career-best season in 2022 but allowed four runs in 1.2 innings over his last two appearances. It's possible that he was bothered by his back injury during those outings, and he'll be unavailable for the remainder of the season after landing on the injured list. The 27-year-old converted two of four save chances and picked up 11 holds while posting a 3.49 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 56.2 innings over 62 appearances this year.
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Tigers' Joe Jimenez: Picks up save
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Jimenez earned the save Sunday in Texas, striking out one in two-thirds of an inning in a 9-8 victory.
Jimenez entered the game with one out and a runner on first after the Rangers scored three runs off Gregory Soto to get within a run of the Tigers. Jimenez struck out Adolis Garcia and retired the next batter to end the game. It was his second save of the season and first since July 4. With Soto struggling, Jimenez may receive the occasional save chance over the last part of the season.
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Tigers' Joe Jimenez: Earns first 2022 save
Rotowire
Jimenez pitched a perfect ninth inning in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader against the Guardians to earn the save. He struck out one.
The Tigers used regular closer Gregory Soto to lock down a win in Game 1, so they turned to Jimenez in the nightcap. The righty looked good, retiring the side on just 11 pitches. Jimenez has been solid this season with a 3.23 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 40 strikeouts across 30.2 innings. Along with Soto, he's a candidate to get traded to a contender that needs bullpen help before the deadline next month.
