Career
Kolb was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1995 and made his major league debut with Texas in 1999. He spent that season and the next three being shuttled between the Rangers and their minor league system. Released before the 2003 season, he signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he became the team closer and shined in that role during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, converting 60 of 67 save opportunities, and was selected to the NL All-Star team in 2004.
Before the 2005 season, the Atlanta Braves returned closer John Smoltz to his original starter role to compensate for several losses in their pitching rotation. The Braves traded highly regarded rookie pitcher José Capellán and minor league pitcher Alec Zumwalt to the Brewers for Kolb to replace Smoltz in the bullpen. However, Kolb endured a poor season with the Braves, going 3-8 with a 5.93 ERA while recording only 11 saves before being replaced in the closer role by Chris Reitsma. Because of his struggles, Kolb was consistently booed at Braves' home games and had derogatory websites devoted to him. He admitted following the '05 season that the pressure of replacing a legend like Smoltz played a big part in his ineffectiveness.
At the 2005 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, Kolb was traded back to Milwaukee in exchange for reliever Wes Obermueller. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Brewers on January 4, 2006, to serve as a setup man to Derrick Turnbow. He finished the year with a 2-2 record and a 4.84 ERA in 53 games.
He declared free agency on November 1, 2006 and signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 3, 2007. On March 29, he was told he would not be added to the major league roster to start the season. However, on June 12, the Pirates recalled Kolb from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Kolb was designated for assignment and was released from the Pirates after he declined the option to go to AAA Indianapolis.
Kolb signed a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training with the Boston Red Sox on January 22, 2008 as a free agent, but was released on April 26, 2008.
Kolb graduated from Walnut High School in Walnut, Illinois.
Read more about this topic: Dan Kolb
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