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 closer, converting 60 of 67 save opportunities in 2003 and 2004 and making the 2004 NL All-Star team.\n', '

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 pitchers José Capellán and 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. He admitted following the \'05 season that the pressure of replacing a legend like Smoltz played a big part in his ineffectiveness.\n', '

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.\n', '

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