One of the main stories of spring training for the Mets, Max Kranick has one-upped himself in his first two outings of the regular season.
Max Kranick. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
After finishing Grapefruit League play with a 1.46 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 12 1/3 frames, the 27-year-old has come up clutch in a few big spots thus far while trailing only Huascar Brazobán for the most innings thrown by any reliever on the team through the early goings of the campaign with 3 2/3.
His first taste of action came in an anxiety-inducing situation during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros on March 29. Staring down one of the game’s most gifted hitters in Yordan Alvarez with the bases loaded and one out while Houston held a 2-1 lead, Kranick induced a foul out before getting Christian Walker to ground out, avoiding any damage in the process.
In a bout with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night, he entered in the bottom of the sixth after Kodai Senga threw five innings in his initial start of the season. Kranick proceeded to carve through the Marlins’ lineup, notching a strikeout of Griffin Conine as part of three perfect frames.
The Mets did not earn a win in either of the contests he’s appeared in, but that’s clearly not a reflection of his performance. Kranick has yet to allow a walk, and his 2.31 FIP, albeit in a diminutive sample size, suggests that his success should be sustainable to a certain degree.
He’s shown the ability to make an impact in a variety of different scenarios out of the bullpen as well, whether that be as a bulk reliever or as a late-inning option who can get out of a jam.
After Kranick’s outing against the Marlins, manager Carlos Mendoza was nothing but complementary of the right-hander’s efforts.
“For him to come in like that and save the bullpen and give us a chance, that was pretty impressive,” Mendoza said, per SNY. “Attacked, threw strikes, used all of his pitches, was pitch-efficient, and that’s gonna be huge for us moving forward, having a guy like that you know you can trust in helping you keep games close, or keeping a lead and giving you distance out of the bullpen.”
Kranick’s career hit a significant roadblock after undergoing Tommy John surgery as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2022, but he’s landed on his feet with the Mets and now is making a difference for his childhood team.
