Brooks Kriske

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Brooks Kriske

|image = ブルックス・クリスキー投手.jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Kriske with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2023

|team = Chicago Cubs

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|2|3}}

|birth_place = Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 29

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = New York Yankees

|debut2league= NPB

|debut2date = April 12

|debut2year = 2022

|debut2team = Yokohama DeNA BayStars

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2023 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 2–1

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 11.22

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 25

|stat2league = NPB

|stat2year = 2023 season

|stat21label = Win–loss record

|stat21value = 1–1

|stat22label = Earned run average

|stat22value = 2.31

|stat23label = Strikeouts

|stat23value = 39

|teams =

New York Yankees ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2021}})
Yokohama DeNA BayStars ({{npby|2022}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2023}})
Saitama Seibu Lions ({{npby|2023}})

}}

Brooks Joseph Kriske ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|ɪ|s|k|i}} {{respell|KRIS|kee}};[https://img.mlbstatic.com/milb-images/image/upload/milb/sesytkxanmuostxgyqwp.pdf Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders roster, as of Sunday, May 16, 2021.] Retrieved September 16, 2021 born February 3, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and Saitama Seibu Lions.

Amateur career

Kriske played all four years of varsity baseball at Palm Desert High School in Palm Desert, California. He helped his team to three consecutive California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Finals from 2010–2012, winning the CIF state championships in 2010 and 2012. Kriske pitched a complete-game shutout in the final in 2012. He was a two-time All State selection.{{cite web

| title =Kriske Discusses His Journey

| url =https://lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2021/01/13/yankees-prospect-brooks-kriske-discusses-journey/

| website =lastwordonsports.com

| date = January 13, 2021

| access-date =June 10, 2021 }}

Kriske attended the University of Southern California (USC) and played college baseball for the USC Trojans. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/siyankees/2018/06/reliever_brooks_kriske_ready_f.html|title=Reliever ready for second chance with S.I. Yankees|date=June 15, 2018|website=silive}}

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

Kriske began his professional career in 2016 with the Staten Island Yankees.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kriske000bro |title=Brooks Kriske Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=July 23, 2021}} He underwent Tommy John surgery that year, and subsequently missed the 2017 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/mercer/2019/07/thunder-reliever-brooks-kriske-is-better-than-ever-after-tommy-john-surgery.html|title=Thunder reliever Brooks Kriske is better than ever after Tommy John surgery|first=Sean Miller | For NJ Advance|last=Media|date=July 18, 2019|website=nj}} He was an all-star in the Florida State League pitching for the Tampa Tarpons before being promoted to Double-A with the Trenton Thunder. The Yankees added him to their 40-man roster after the 2019 season, before being optioned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of Triple-A in March 2020.

Kriske was added to the Yankees' active roster on July 26, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Hoch |first1=Bryan |title=Notes: Frazier optioned; Andújar in left field |url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-boone-talks-clint-frazier-being-optioned |website=MLB.com |accessdate=July 30, 2020}} He made his major league debut on July 29 against the Baltimore Orioles, striking out two batters and walking one in an inning of relief.{{cite web |last1=Hoch |first1=Bryan |title=Cole: Sánchez's 'familiarity' key to win vs. O's |url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gerrit-cole-wins-18th-straight |website=MLB.com |accessdate=July 30, 2020}} For the shortened 2020 season, Kriske appeared in four games without registering a decision, while pitching to a 14.73 earned run average (ERA) while striking out eight batters in {{frac|3|2|3}} innings.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kriskbr01.shtml |title=Brooks Kriske Stats |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=July 23, 2021}}

Kriske began the 2021 season in Triple-A with the RailRiders.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/player/brooks-kriske-621139 |title=Brooks Kriske Stats, Fantasy & News |website=MiLB.com |accessdate=July 23, 2021}} He was recalled by the Yankees twice in June and once in July.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/transactions/2021/06 |title=Yankees Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |date=June 2021 |accessdate=July 23, 2021}} On July 21, Kriske recorded his first major league win, throwing a scoreless 10th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies, as the Yankees scored in the bottom half of the inning to win.{{cite news |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2021/07/21/yankees-win-fourth-straight-game-behind-walk-off-hit-ryan-lamarre/8035476002/ |title=Ryan LaMarre lifts New York Yankees to fourth straight win with walk-off hit in 10th |work=The Record |first=Andrew |last=Tredinnick |date=July 21, 2021 |accessdate=July 23, 2021}} The next day, Kriske was again used in extra innings, this time in a save situation against the Boston Red Sox. However, he blew the save and took the loss, tying the MLB regular-season record by throwing four wild pitches in the inning.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/brooks-kriskes-disastrous-night-was-historically-wild/ar-AAMtmJv |title=Brooks Kriske's Disastrous Night Was Historically Wild |first=Max |last=Goodman |magazine=Sports Illustrated |via=MSN.com |date=July 23, 2021 |accessdate=July 23, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_wild1.shtml |title=Wild Pitch Records |website=Baseball Almanac |accessdate=July 23, 2021}} He was optioned to Triple-A after the game.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/transactions/2021/07 |title=Yankees Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |date=July 2021 |accessdate=July 23, 2021}} On September 14, the Yankees designated Kriske for assignment. {{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/09/yankees-dfa-brooks-kriske-re-sign-sal-romano.html|title = Yankees Designate Brooks Kriske, Re-Sign Sal Romano| date=September 14, 2021 }}

=Baltimore Orioles=

Kriske was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles two days later on September 16 and sent to the Norfolk Tides.[https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/baseball/2021/09/20/brooks-kriske-dropped-new-york-yankees-picked-up-baltimore-orioles/5785496001/ Powers, Shad. "Changing Major League teams, Brooks Kriske dropped by Yankees, picked up by Orioles," The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA), Monday, September 20, 2021.] Retrieved September 22, 2021 After pitching a scoreless inning in his only Tides appearance, he was promoted to the Orioles on September 19.[https://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2021/09/orioles-add-relievers-eshelman-and-kriske-to-active-roster.html Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles add relievers Eshelman and Kriske to active roster," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Sunday, September 19, 2021.] Retrieved September 22, 2021 He made his Orioles debut in a 4–3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 22. The only batter he faced was Andrew McCutchen whose foul out to the catcher stranded two base runners to end the seventh inning.[https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/brooks-kriske-makes-orioles-debut-vs-phillies Trezza, Joe. "Kriske realizes lifelong dream with O's debut," MLB.com, Wednesday, September 22, 2021.] Retrieved September 23, 2021 After appearing in four games with a 12.27 ERA in {{frac|3|2|3}} innings, Kriske requested, and was granted his release to pursue an international opportunity on November 30.[https://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2021/11/orioles-remove-kriske-and-fox-from-40-man-roster.html Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles remove Kriske, Fox from 40-man roster (with multiple updates)," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Tuesday, November 30, 2021.] Retrieved December 1, 2021

=Yokohama DeNA BayStars=

File:20220604 BROOKS KRISKE pitcher of DeNA Baystars at Yokohama stadium (cropped).jpg

On December 8, 2021, Kriske signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{cite web|author=Darragh McDonald |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/brooks-kriske-signs-with-npbs-yokohama-dena-baystars.html|title=Brooks Kriske Signs With NPB's Yokohama DeNA BayStars|publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=December 8, 2021 |accessdate=December 8, 2021}}

===Kansas City Royals===

File:Brooks Kriske (52805663406) (cropped).jpg in 2023]]

On December 15, 2022, Kriske signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. {{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/royals-sign-cody-poteet-brooks-kriske-to-minor-league-deals.html | title=Royals Sign Cody Poteet, Brooks Kriske to Minor League Deals | date=December 15, 2022 }} He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin the 2023 season, posting a 6.00 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 5 saves in 27.0 innings pitched. On June 18, 2023, Kriske had his contract selected to the major league roster.{{Cite web|title=Royals' Brooks Kriske: Promoted from Omaha|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-brooks-kriske-promoted-from-omaha/amp/|access-date=June 18, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 4 games for the Royals, he recorded a 4.05 ERA with 6 strikeouts in {{fraction|6|2|3}} innings pitched. On July 21, Kriske requested and was granted his released by the Royals to continue his career in Japan.{{Cite web|title= Brooks Kriske: Set for release|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brooks-kriske-set-for-release/|access-date=July 21, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=July 21, 2023 |language=en}}

===Saitama Seibu Lions===

On July 26, 2023, Kriske signed a $320,000 contract with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).{{Cite web|title=Seibu won the right arm Chriskey and played for DeNA last season|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3c38dd0d0ae00d623eb09a2b8083d60ee716d7be|access-date=July 27, 2023|website=news.yahoo.co.jp|language=en}} He became a free agent after the 2023 season.

=Cincinnati Reds=

On December 21, 2023, Kriske signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/reds-sign-brooks-kriske-to-minor-league-deal.html | title=Reds Sign Brooks Kriske to Minor League Deal | date=December 21, 2023 }} On June 17, 2024, the Reds added Kriske to their 40–man roster to prevent him from exercising the opt–out clause in his contract.{{Cite web|title=Reds Select Brooks Kriske|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/reds-select-brooks-kriske.html|access-date=June 17, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 17, 2024 |language=en}} In 42 appearances for the Triple–A Louisville Bats, he compiled a 5–0 record and 3.10 ERA with 72 strikeouts across {{fraction|49|1|3}} innings pitched. Kriske was designated for assignment following the signing of Dominic Smith on August 22.{{Cite web|title=Reds Designate Brooks Kriske For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/reds-designate-brooks-kriske-for-assignment.html|access-date=August 26, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 22, 2024 |language=en}}

=Baltimore Orioles (second stint)=

On August 25, 2024, Kriske was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.{{Cite web|title=Orioles Claim Brooks Kriske, Designate Nick Vespi For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/orioles-designate-nick-vespi-for-assignment.html|access-date=August 25, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 25, 2024 |language=en}} In 8 games for the Triple–A Norfolk Tides, he posted a 5.00 ERA with 9 strikeouts across 9 innings pitched. Kriske elected free agency following the season on October 31.

=Chicago Cubs=

On November 29, 2024, Kriske signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.{{Cite web|title=Cubs To Sign Brooks Kriske|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/cubs-to-sign-brooks-kriske.html|access-date=November 29, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 29, 2024 |language=en}}