Max Kranick

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Max Kranick

| image = Max Kranick (53187532617) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Kranick with the Indianapolis Indians in 2023

| team = New York Mets

| number = 32

| position = Pitcher

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|7|21}}

| birth_place = Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 27

| debutyear = 2021

| debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = June 15, 2025

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 5–5

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.69

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 61

| teams =

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})
New York Mets ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Max Joseph Kranick (born July 21, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Amateur career

Kranick attended Valley View High School in Archbald, Pennsylvania. For his high school career, he compiled a 1.17 ERA.{{cite web|first=Conor |last=Foley |url=https://accessnepa.com/sports/hs-baseball-your-lackawanna-league-all-decade-team |title=HS Baseball: Your Lackawanna League All-Decade team |publisher=Access NEPA |date=December 31, 2019 |access-date=December 11, 2020}} After his senior year, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|last=Foley |first=Conor |url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/high-school/pittsburgh-pirates-select-valley-views-kranick-in-11th-round/article_49794652-8e54-55cf-a36a-9f28d8750d29.html |title=Pittsburgh Pirates select Valley View's Kranick in 11th round | High School |date=June 12, 2016 |publisher=thetimes-tribune.com |access-date=December 11, 2020}} He signed for $300,000, forgoing his commitment to the University of Virginia.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/.amp-pirates/mlb/pirates/prospects/pittsburgh-pirates-prospect-spotlight-max-kranick |title=Pittsburgh Pirates' Prospect Spotlight: Max Kranick | Sports Illustrated |date=January 20, 2020 |publisher=Si.com |access-date=December 11, 2020}}

Professional career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Kranick made his professional debut that summer with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates, going 1–2 with a 2.43 ERA over nine games (six starts).{{cite web|last=Hennigan |first=Shane |url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/sports/baseball-local-pros-ready-for-spring-training-upcoming-seasons/article_13f1ed6b-b948-55a0-8d14-dc59e7de9dc0.html |title=BASEBALL: Local pros ready for spring training, upcoming seasons | Sports |date=January 29, 2017 |publisher=citizensvoice.com |access-date=December 11, 2020}} In 2017, he split time between the Gulf Coast League and the Bristol Pirates of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, compiling a combined 1–0 record and 1.11 ERA over five starts.{{cite web|last=Irwin |first=Luke |url=https://thesportsdaily.com/2018/02/15/pittsburgh-pirates-underrated-prospects/ |title=Three under-the-radar Pittsburgh Pirates prospects to watch |publisher=The Sports Daily |date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=December 11, 2020}} He spent 2018 with the West Virginia Power of the Single–A South Atlantic League, going 4–5 with a 3.81 ERA over 17 games (16 starts), and 2019 with the Bradenton Marauders of the High–A Florida State League, pitching to a 6–7 record and 3.79 ERA over twenty starts.{{cite web|date=November 20, 2020 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-max-kranick-protected-from-rule-5-draft/ |title=Pirates' Max Kranick: Protected from Rule 5 draft |publisher=CBSSports.com |access-date=December 11, 2020}}

On November 20, 2020, Kranick was added to Pittsburgh's 40-man roster.{{cite web|first=Steve |last=Adams |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/pirates-designate-trevor-williams-for-assignment.html |title=Pirates Designate Trevor Williams For Assignment |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020}} He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Northeast.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribdem.com/sports/curve-roster-for-2021-season-loaded-with-top-pirates-prospects/article_f3aa6fd0-abd8-11eb-9b85-271091e53fc9.html|title=Curve roster for 2021 season loaded with top Pirates prospects|first=The|last=Tribune-Democrat|website=The Tribune-Democrat|date=May 3, 2021 }} In late May, he was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A East League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.altoonamirror.com/sports/altoona-curve/2021/06/curve-carve-their-own-niche-with-12th-road-victory/|title=Curve carve their own niche with 12th road victory |website=altoonamirror.com |date=June 4, 2021| access-date=June 27, 2021}}

On June 27, 2021, Kranick was promoted to the major leagues to make his MLB debut as the starting pitcher versus the St. Louis Cardinals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/pittsburgh-pirates-to-call-up-kranick/article_85e98cce-1aa2-5033-9795-6f43151b0e01.html|title=Pittsburgh Pirates to call up Kranick|first=Conor |last=Foley |website=Scranton Times-Tribune|date=June 27, 2021 }} He threw five perfect innings, striking out three batters, before a rain delay occurred and he was removed.{{cite web|url= https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2021/06/27/Pirates-Cardinals-Max-Kranick/stories/202106270210 |title= Max Kranick dazzles in MLB debut, as Pirates take series from Cardinals |last=Mackey |first=Jason| date=June 27, 2021| website= post-gazette.com|access-date=June 27, 2021}}{{cite web |url= https://www.mlb.com/news/max-kranick-perfect-through-five-innings-in-mlb-debut |title= Kranick throws five perfect frames in debut |last=Crouse |first=Jake |date= June 27, 2021| work= mlb.com|access-date=June 27, 2021}} He set the record for the most batters retired to begin a major league career with 15.{{cite web |last1=SABR |title=SABR Records newsletter, December 2021 |url=http://sabr.org/research/baseball-records-research-committee-newsletters/ |access-date=January 4, 2022}} Over nine starts with the Pirates, Kranick went 2–3 with a 6.28 ERA and 32 strikeouts over {{fraction|38|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-a-to-z-from-perfect-debut-to-strong-finish-max-kranick-showed-he-can-be-a-starter/|title = Pirates a to Z: From perfect debut to strong finish, Max Kranick showed he can be a starter|date = November 13, 2021}}

Kranick opened the 2022 season with Indianapolis before he underwent Tommy John surgery in early June, forcing him out indefinitely.{{cite web | url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2022/06/04/pirates-max-kranick-tommy-john-surgery-sources-right-elbow-scranton-pitcher/stories/202206040044 | title=Sources: Max Kranick underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday }} He was activated from the injured list on September 1, 2023,{{Cite web|title=Pirates select Miguel Andújar, reinstate Carmen Mlodzinski in flurry of roster moves|url=https://www.bucsdugout.com/2023/9/1/23855971/pittsburgh-pirates-select-miguel-andujar-reinstate-carmen-mlodzinski-dfa-yohan-ramirez-cal-mitchell|access-date=September 1, 2023|website=bucsdugout.com|date=September 2023 |language=en}} but did not appear in the majors for Pittsburgh. On January 5, 2024, Kranick was designated for assignment by the Pirates.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/pirates-designate-max-kranick-for-assignment.html | title=Pirates Designate Max Kranick for Assignment | date=January 5, 2024 }}

=New York Mets=

On January 12, 2024, Kranick was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.{{Cite web|title=Mets Claim Max Kranick From Pirates|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/mets-claim-max-kranick-from-pirates.html|access-date=January 12, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=January 12, 2024 |language=en}} After beginning the year on the injured list, he made 6 starts split between the Single–A St. Lucie Mets, Double–A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and Triple–A Syracuse Mets, accumulating a 4.30 ERA with 13 strikeouts across {{fraction|14|2|3}} innings pitched. On May 6, Kranick was designated for assignment by the Mets.{{Cite web|title=Mets Designate Max Kranick, Claim Yohan Ramirez|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/mets-dfa-max-kranick-claim-yohan-ramirez-waivers-orioles.html|access-date=May 6, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 6, 2024 |language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Syracuse on May 11.{{Cite web|title=Mets Outright Max Kranick|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/mets-outright-max-kranick.html|access-date=May 14, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 12, 2024 |language=en}} He had his contract selected back to the major league roster again on October 1.{{Cite web|title=Mets Select Max Kranick, Designate Eddy Alvarez For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/mets-select-max-kranick-designate-eddy-alvarez-for-assignment.html|access-date=October 13, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Kranick was named to the Mets' Opening Day roster for the 2025 season.{{Cite web |title=Mets Notes: Brett Baty, Max Kranick among those on Opening Day roster; Paul Blackburn to IL |url=https://sny.tv/articles/mets-notes-brett-baty-max-kranick-paul-blackburn-3-26-25 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |website=sny.tv}} Kranick was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse on June 3 before being called back to the active roster on June 13.[https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-max-kranick-brought-up-to-active-roster/ Mets Max Kranick: Brought up to active roster], CBS Sports, June 13, 2025