Max Kranick #32

Max Joseph Kranick (pronounced “KRAN-ick”) graduated from Valley View (Pa.) High School, where he went 16-3 with a 1.17 ERA and 201 strikeouts during his career...Went 5-0 with a 0.31 ERA and 66 strikeouts as a senior while leading his team to the District 2 Class AAA final...Grew up rooting for the Mets in Jessup, Pa., just outside of Scranton...Took after his father, who is a Mets fan as well...Had a season ticket plan and accompanied his dad to Shea Stadium on Sundays... While being shut down due to "Tommy John" Surgery in 2022, he would make encouragement videos to send to kids going through arm issues... Was committed to Virginia before signing with the Pirates.

2022

Began the season on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain...Began rehab assignment with Bradenton on 4/12 and threw 24 pitches in 2.0 innings...Had rehab transferred to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he made his first appearance on 4/22...Was returned from rehab and reinstated from the injured list on 4/29...Was recalled from Indianapolis to serve as the 27th man for the doubleheader in Cincinnati on 5/7; pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and was returned following the game...Was recalled again on 5/10... Tossed 3.0 scoreless innings of relief on 5/11 vs. Los Angeles (NL)...Was optioned to Indianapolis on 5/12...Was placed on the seven-day injured list on 5/17 due to right forearm/elbow discomfort...Underwent “Tommy John” surgery on 6/3...Was recalled and placed on the 60-day injured list on 6/25.

2021

Began season at the alternate training site in Pittsburgh... Was assigned to Double-A Altoona to begin minor league season... Went 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA, 16 strikeouts and two walks in three starts (15.2ip) thru 5/21...Was promoted to Indianapolis on 5/31... Made first Triple-A start on 6/1 vs. Columbus and struck out six batters while allowing one run in 5.0ip...Suffered first loss on 6/6 vs. Columbus (4.1ip/4er)... Gave up one hit and struck out a season-high nine batters in 5.0 scoreless innings while winning his first Triple-A game on 6/12 at Nashville... Was recalled on 6/27 and made his Major League debut that afternoon in St. Louis; pitched 5.0 perfect innings while winning the game (did not return after a 64-minute rain delay)...Became just the second Pirates pitcher ever to bat before pitching in his Major League debut as a starting pitcher (also Paul Maholm on Aug. 30, 2005 at Milwaukee)...Also became the first MLB pitcher since 1893 with a perfect completed start of at least five innings in his MLB debut...Was the first Pirates starter to make his debut and win a game in the city of St. Louis since Erv Kantlehner on April 17, 1914...Was optioned back to Indianapolis on 6/28... Surrendered five runs in 3.0ip on 7/3 vs. Iowa... Was recalled to be the 27th man in the doubleheader on 7/10 at New York (NL); started game two and suffered the loss (3.0ip/3er)...Was optioned back following the game... Was recalled on 7/20...Started on his 24th birthday on 7/21 at Arizona and gave up four runs in 3.0+ innings in a no-decision... Was optioned to Indy on 7/23... Was recalled on 7/28 and made his first start at PNC Park that night vs. Milwaukee (5.0ip/6er)...Was optioned to Indianapolis on 8/4... Threw 35 pitches in the first inning on 8/15 vs. St. Paul and allowed five hits and five runs (one earned) while recording two outs in the loss... Tossed 6.0 scoreless innings while winning his second Triple-A decision on 8/20 at Toledo... Was recalled on 9/1; started that night in Chicago (AL) and was charged with five runs in 4.2ip and suffered his third loss...Was optioned on 9/2 and went 3-1 with a 1.61 ERA (22.1ip/4er) in his last four Triple-starts from 8/20 thru 9/12... Was recalled on 9/19 and started that afternoon in Miami; struck out six batters in a row - the most consecutive Ks since Francisco Liriano in 2013... Pitched in front of family and friends in Philadelphia on 9/26 and tossed 5.0 scoreless innings while winning his second big league game... Made his final start on 10/2 vs. Cincinnati and gave up four runs (three earned) in 4.0ip... Went 0-for-12 with two sac bunts as a batter with the Pirates.

2020

Was ranked by Baseball America as the 23rd-best prospect in the farm system prior to the season... Spent season at Pittsburgh’s alternate training site in Altoona.

2019

Spent season with High-A Bradenton and ranked second on the staff in starts and innings pitched...Lost five of his first six decisions thru 5/17...Won three straight starts from 5/22 thru 6/2...Tossed first professional complete game (6.0 innings) on 7/9 at Lakeland in a 4-2 loss...Made final start on 7/26...Was placed on the injured list on 8/8 (retroactive to 8/7) due to shoulder issues.

2018

Spent season with Low-A West Virginia...Made his first start on 5/21...Lost four of his first five decisions thru 7/11...Gave up one hit while pitching 6.0 scoreless innings in a 7-0 win on 7/29 vs. Asheville...Won back-to-back starts on 7/29 and 8/3 and three of his last four decisions...Pitched 3.0 hitless innings and picked up first professional save in his final outing on 9/1 at Charleston. 

2017

Went 1-0 with a 1.11 ERA (24.1ip/10r/3er) in five total starts between the GCL Pirates and Bristol...Did not allow an earned run in his three starts with the GCL Pirates...Pitched a season-high 6.0 innings in his first outing with Bristol on 8/22...Threw a season-high 90 pitches in last game on 8/27.

2016

Spent first professional season with the Gulf Coast League Pirates...Went 0-2 with a 3.47 ERA (23.1ip/9er) in six starts and 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (10.0ip) in three relief appearances...Tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in his first pro outing on 7/13 vs. GCL Yankees...Suffered losses in his first two starts on 7/18 and 7/30...Picked up his first win after pitching 5.0 scoreless innings of relief on 8/11.

2023

Returning from "Tommy John" surgery, made two starts in Bradenton (A+) before transferring to Indianapolis (AAA)...Made seven starts, recording a 0-1 record with a 2.76 ERA (5ER/16.1 IP).