Craig Kimbrel on the Day-to-Day Grind of a Closer

Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel shares his daily routine during the big-league season.

Kimbrel lays out his daily schedule for a night game. The closing pitcher arrives at the park around 2:30 in the afternoon, eats lunch, and takes the field to run with his fellow relief pitchers. "We'll do football throws, baseball tosses, maybe even throw the Frisbee or run the stadium stairs," Kimbrel says. "We never want to get into the same routine because then it gets boring or tiring." If it's an upper-body day, Kimbrel will complete his workout before the start of the game. He claims working out before the game gives him a better understanding of how his arm is and where it is in terms of his mechanics. After his workout, Kimbrel returns to the field to "power shag" during batting practice. Then it's a waiting game for Kimbrel, who will watch the first eight innings of the ballgame from the bullpen in hopes of hearing his name called to pitch in the ninth inning.