Ashley Holt Kimbrel is known as the wife of professional baseball pitcher Craig Kimbrel. She attended Wallace State Community College, where her relationship with Craig began before his successful professional baseball career.
She became familiar to baseball fans through her marriage, family appearances, and support for Craig throughout his career. Ashley is also connected with charitable efforts focused on helping children and families.
This article explores Ashley Holt Kimbrel’s education, relationship with Craig, marriage, children, daughter Lydia’s health journey, charity involvement, public appearances, family life, and her support for Craig’s baseball career.
Who Is Ashley Holt Kimbrel?
Ashley Holt Kimbrel is the wife of American professional baseball pitcher Craig Kimbrel. Before marriage, she was known as Ashley Holt and attended Wallace State Community College in Alabama.
Her name became closely connected with professional baseball after Craig developed a successful career as a relief pitcher. Ashley has regularly supported him while also concentrating on their growing family.
Away from baseball events, Ashley maintains a relatively private lifestyle. Her story mainly centers on her relationship with Craig, their two children, charitable activities, and experiences together as a family.
Early Life and Education
Ashley Holt spent part of her younger years focused on education before becoming connected with the professional baseball world. Details about her childhood and family background have remained outside major public discussions.
She attended Wallace State Community College in Alabama. During her college years, Ashley was reportedly involved in cheerleading, giving her an active role in the college community while completing her education.
Wallace State also became an important place in her personal story. It was there that she met Craig Kimbrel, who was developing his baseball abilities while playing for the college team.
How Ashley Holt Met Craig Kimbrel
Ashley and Craig first crossed paths while they were students at Wallace State Community College. Ashley was involved in cheerleading, while Craig was building his future through competitive college baseball.
Their relationship started before Craig became a widely recognized professional pitcher. This meant Ashley knew him during the earlier stages of his journey, before Major League Baseball brought greater attention to his career.
Their college relationship eventually developed into a serious partnership. Ashley remained an important person in Craig’s life as his baseball career progressed and his professional responsibilities continued to grow.
Craig Kimbrel’s Proposal to Ashley
Craig eventually decided to take their relationship to the next level by proposing to Ashley. The proposal reportedly came after he had played a difficult game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Although the game itself had not gone as Craig hoped, his relationship gave him something positive to focus on. His personal happiness with Ashley remained separate from the challenges he experienced professionally.
The proposal marked an important turning point for the couple. Their relationship had developed alongside Craig’s baseball journey, and they were now preparing to begin their lives together as husband and wife.
Ashley Holt and Craig Kimbrel’s Marriage
Ashley Holt married Craig Kimbrel in 2012. Their marriage brought together two people whose relationship had started years earlier when they were still attending college and building their individual futures.
As Craig’s professional baseball career developed, the couple experienced the demands that come with professional sports. Travel, team changes, games, and public events became regular parts of their family experience.
Ashley continued supporting her husband through these changes. Their marriage eventually expanded into family life with the arrival of their daughter, Lydia Joy, followed later by their son, Joseph.
Who Is Craig Kimbrel?
Craig Kimbrel is an American professional baseball pitcher who became especially well known for working as a relief pitcher and closer. His baseball career has included several Major League Baseball organizations.
Throughout his career, Craig has played for teams including the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Baltimore Orioles, among other professional baseball experiences.
He has also received multiple MLB All-Star selections. Ashley and their children have accompanied Craig to different baseball occasions, making family an important part of his life away from competition.
Ashley Holt Kimbrel’s Children
Ashley and Craig Kimbrel are parents to two children, a daughter named Lydia Joy Kimbrel and a son named Joseph. Parenthood became another major chapter in their long relationship.
Their daughter Lydia reportedly arrived in November 2017. Her early months brought serious challenges for the family because she was born with heart defects that required medical attention and treatment.
Ashley and Craig later welcomed Joseph into their family. Together, the couple has appeared with both children at baseball functions and other events while continuing to balance family responsibilities with Craig’s career.
Lydia Joy Kimbrel’s Heart Condition
The birth of Lydia Joy brought happiness to Ashley and Craig, but it also introduced a difficult period. Their daughter experienced heart problems that required the family to focus heavily on her health.
Ashley became deeply involved in understanding what Lydia was experiencing. She spent time researching her daughter’s condition and connecting with online support groups where families could share experiences involving similar health challenges.
Craig also described Lydia’s health problems as an extremely difficult experience for their family. During this period, baseball became secondary as Ashley and Craig concentrated on their daughter and the treatment she needed.
Lydia’s Heart Surgery and Recovery
In 2018, Lydia required important medical care, including heart surgery. Craig stepped away from Boston Red Sox spring training so he could remain with his family during this challenging period.
The situation also showed how strongly the baseball community supported the Kimbrel family. Boston players wore shirts featuring the message “We Are #LydiaStrong” as a public display of encouragement for Lydia.
Following treatment and surgery, Lydia reportedly responded well. The experience became an important part of Ashley and Craig’s family journey and strengthened their understanding of families facing serious childhood health conditions.
Ashley’s Role in Craig Kimbrel’s Career
Ashley has been beside Craig through many stages of his professional baseball journey. His career has involved different organizations, cities, seasons, and major events across Major League Baseball.
She has attended games and public occasions with him, sometimes bringing their children along. These appearances have allowed baseball followers to see the family side of Craig beyond his competitive role on the field.
Ashley’s relationship with Craig also began before his rise in professional baseball. Their long history means she has experienced both his earlier development and many important moments from his MLB career.
The Famous “Let It Go” Entrance Song Moment
Ashley created a memorable baseball moment in August 2022 when Craig was playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The organization held a Women’s Day event involving players’ wives and partners.
For the event, wives and partners received an opportunity to select entrance music. Craig normally entered to “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, a song closely associated with his appearances.
Ashley decided to make a playful change by choosing “Let It Go,” performed by Idina Menzel for Disney’s Frozen. The unexpected song choice attracted attention from baseball followers and became a fun family moment.
Ashley Holt Kimbrel’s Charity Involvement
Helping children has also formed part of Ashley and Craig’s life together. In 2013, the couple became connected with Curing Kids Cancer and efforts aimed at supporting children affected by cancer.
Their own family later experienced the emotional challenges of dealing with a child’s serious medical condition. Lydia’s heart problems gave Ashley personal experience with the uncertainty families can face during medical treatment.
Ashley’s efforts to learn about Lydia’s condition also connected her with other parents and families. These experiences show an important side of her life beyond simply being known as a professional athlete’s wife.
Public Appearances With Her Family
Ashley has made several public appearances alongside Craig and their children. In July 2018, she attended the MLB All-Star Game red carpet in Washington, D.C., together with Craig and Lydia.
The family was also seen at Wrigley Field in Chicago during 2019. In 2021, Ashley and her family appeared at the MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show held in Denver.
Another family appearance came in August 2022 at Clayton Kershaw’s Ping Pong 4 Purpose event at Dodger Stadium. Ashley attended the occasion alongside Craig, Lydia, and Joseph.
Ashley Holt Kimbrel at the 2023 MLB All-Star Event
Ashley continued making occasional baseball-related appearances with her family. In July 2023, the Kimbrel family attended the MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show at Pike Place Market in Seattle.
Craig appeared at the event with Ashley and their children, Lydia and Joseph. Their presence reflected how family has remained connected with many of the important public moments throughout Craig’s baseball career.
Despite attending these major events, Ashley has not developed a highly public celebrity lifestyle. Her appearances have generally been associated with her husband, their children, baseball, or charitable activities.
Ashley Holt Kimbrel’s Personal Life
Ashley appears to prefer keeping everyday life away from constant public attention. Most information about her centers on her marriage, children, college background, charitable activities, and appearances connected with Craig.
Her family responsibilities have played an especially significant role in her story. Supporting Lydia during her health challenges required considerable attention, research, patience, and emotional strength from Ashley and Craig.
At the same time, she has continued supporting Craig through the changing demands of professional baseball. Their story stretches from their college years to marriage, parenthood, and life around Major League Baseball.
What Does Ashley Holt Kimbrel Do?
Ashley was reportedly a cheerleader while attending Wallace State Community College. Her life after college became increasingly connected with marriage, motherhood, Craig’s professional baseball career, and family responsibilities.
She has also participated in charitable activities and attended numerous baseball-related functions. Her public presence has mainly focused on supporting her family rather than establishing herself as an entertainment or sports personality.
Ashley keeps her professional life private. As a result, she is primarily recognized publicly through her family life, charitable connections, and long relationship with Craig rather than through a separate public career.
Ashley Holt Kimbrel’s Social Media Presence
Social media played a useful role for Ashley when her daughter was experiencing serious heart problems. She reportedly connected with online support groups while researching Lydia’s medical condition and treatment experiences.
These groups helped Ashley learn from other families who had faced similar situations. This gave her another source of knowledge while she and Craig were navigating a difficult period involving their daughter.
However, Ashley does not maintain the kind of highly visible online presence commonly associated with celebrity spouses. She has generally kept her personal and family life relatively private.
Ashley Holt Kimbrel’s Net Worth
Ashley Holt Kimbrel’s personal wealth has not become an important part of her public story. Most attention surrounding the Kimbrel family financially has naturally centered on Craig’s long professional baseball career.
Craig has spent years competing professionally, while Ashley’s own life has largely remained outside business and career coverage. Her individual financial position therefore should be considered separately from her husband’s baseball earnings.
For this reason, attaching Craig’s career earnings directly to Ashley would create a misleading picture. She is better understood through her family story, charitable involvement, and support throughout her husband’s career.
Final Thoughts
Ashley Holt Kimbrel is best recognized as Craig Kimbrel’s wife, but her story also includes college life, motherhood, charity involvement, and years of supporting her family through major changes.
Her journey with Craig started at Wallace State Community College before professional baseball became such a large part of their lives. Together, they built a marriage and welcomed Lydia Joy and Joseph.
From supporting Lydia through heart surgery to accompanying Craig during important baseball moments, Ashley has remained strongly focused on family. She continues to maintain a relatively private life outside those public appearances.
(FAQs)
Who is Ashley Holt Kimbrel?
Ashley Holt Kimbrel is the wife of professional baseball pitcher Craig Kimbrel. She attended Wallace State Community College and is also known for supporting Craig throughout his baseball career and raising their children.
When did Ashley Holt marry Craig Kimbrel?
Ashley Holt and Craig Kimbrel married in 2012. Their relationship began earlier when they were students at Wallace State Community College, where Ashley was reportedly a cheerleader, and Craig played baseball.
How many children do Ashley and Craig Kimbrel have?
Ashley and Craig Kimbrel have two children. Their daughter is named Lydia Joy Kimbrel, and their son is named Joseph. The children have accompanied their parents to several public baseball events.
What happened to Ashley Kimbrel’s daughter Lydia?
Lydia Joy was reportedly born in November 2017 with heart defects. She later received medical treatment and underwent heart surgery while Craig temporarily stepped away from baseball to support his family.
Where did Ashley Holt Kimbrel meet Craig Kimbrel?
Ashley met Craig while they were attending Wallace State Community College in Alabama. Ashley was reportedly involved in cheerleading, while Craig played college baseball before beginning his professional baseball career.
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