Max Kranick Impresses In Huge Spot Against Houston
Max Kranick made his major league debut with the Nee York Mets on Saturday and it was a good one. He was called into a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning of a 2-1 game the Mets were losing. The jam was brought on by a single and two José Butto walks. Kranick was specifically called upon to face left-handed hitting slugger, Yordan Alvarez, as well as right-handed hitting Christian Walker. Both, arguably the best two power hitters on the Houston Astros.
Kranick managed to navigate all of the ducks on the pond by first getting Alvarez to hit a pop-up in foul territory on the third base side for the second out on a 1-2 count. He then followed that up by getting Christian Walker to ground out to second base in one pitch.
Kranick has overcome a significant amount of adversity to even get to this point, as an 11th-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2016 MLB draft. After being drafted, Kranick climbed the Pirates minor league system, consistently posting an average ERA with almost a strikeout per inning at every level.
Max Kranick. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
During the 2023 season, Kranick, who by this point had 43 2/3 innings of MLB experience with limited success, suffered a torn UCL that would lead to Tommy John surgery and the Pirates releasing him. The Mets decided in the 2024 season that they were willing to take a risk on him, staring him with Single-A with the St. Lucie Mets. He would then make a brief two-game appearance with Double-A Binghamton before he spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Syracuse, pitching to a 3.57 ERA in 41 games, with four of them being starts.
However, come spring training Kranick went to another level. He was throwing all of his pitches for strikes, drawing weak contact, and striking out over a batter an inning. He allowed two runs over 12 1/3 innings, with nine hits allowed, one walk and 15 strikeouts. His rising fastball consistently posting a vertical break over 18″ and his hard breaking slider were his bread and butter. The Mets showed their faith in him by including him on the Opening Day roster.
In regard to his role on the Mets, the sky is the limit, especially if Saturday was an indication. Kranick has great stuff and solid control and the move to the bullpen may have just unlocked him as a pitcher. The Mets may have just found a solid bullpen arm and all it took was some patience and belief that he would return to pre-injury levels.
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