Twins fans, remember Tyler Kinley? The right-handed reliever made his MLB debut with Minnesota back in 2018 following five-plus seasons in the minor leagues.
It's been a bit of a tumultuous career for Kinley, who will be 35 years old by the end of January. But Kinley had a terrific 2025 season with the Atlanta Braves, and for his efforts, he signed a one-year deal worth $3 million to return to the Braves.
We love a player's career arc founded on grit and just being able to survive in the bigs. It's nice to see this for Kinley, who also has a club option after 2026.
Braves sign former Minnesota Twin Tyler Kinley to one-year deal in 2026
Before the 2025 campaign, Kinley dealt with major right elbow injuries that saw him miss major time. Combining an aging pitcher with elbow problems usually spells trouble for a player, but Kinley has found a way to get better.
Kinley was a weak contact king last year with the Braves, allowing just six home runs in 73 appearances. He was especially strong when he was traded from the Rockies to the Braves, producing an 0.72 ERA in 25 innings with a remarkable 0.680 WHIP. He had a 1.183 WHIP for the entire season, which isn't bad, either.
Way back in 2017, Kinley was claimed off waivers by the Twins. He made his MLB debut on April 7, 2018 with the Twins and struck out two batters in one inning, allowing one run. Kinley made four appearances with Minnesota and handed out nine runs in 3.1 frames before getting designated for assignment.
Several years later, Kinley has figured out a way to stay in the big leagues, and to remain on the 25-man roster. We wish him the best in his second stint with the Braves. This organization has a knack for turning pitchers' careers around. Just look at guys like Chris Sale and Tyler Matzek. Atlanta's magic has already worked on Kinley in just a few months (perhaps Orlando Arcia will bring some over to Minnesota this year). Hopefully that trend only continues for him.