Max Kranick #18

Max Joseph Kranick (pronounced “KRAN-ick”)…Is a 2015 graduate of Valley View High School in Archbald, PA, 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…Was a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game second-team All-American selection...Was committed to Virginia before signing with the Pirates...Signed by Pirates scout Dan Radcliff.

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.