Pirates A to Z: Max Kranick's season started with sore forearm, ended with Tommy John surgery

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Miguel Andujar to pitcher Miguel Yajure.

Player: Max Kranick

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Right

Age: 25 (July 21)

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 220 pounds

2022 MLB statistics: Allowed three hits and three walks while striking out four with one wild pitch in five innings over two relief appearances.

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: Drafted in the 11th round in 2016.

This past season: It was a bad sign when Kranick was limited in spring training with right forearm tightness while throwing a live batting practice during the lockout.

Kranick started the season at Low-A Bradenton and, after giving up a home run in his only appearance for the Marauders, returned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Opponents batted .185 against Kranick, who allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 6⅔ innings over three games, including a pair of starts.

There was a little buzz around Max Kranick's outing on Friday. Here's a look at the fastballs he threw in the first inning. #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/2Iux9bcyvv

— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) April 24, 2022

The Pirates added Kranick as the 27th man for their doubleheader at the Cincinnati Reds on May 7, and he gave up one hit and two walks while striking out three of the eight batters he faced in two scoreless innings in the 8-5 win. He was returned to Indianapolis but recalled three days later, when outfielder Jake Marisnick broke his thumb.

Kranick went three innings in his next appearance, giving up two hits and one walk while whiffing one of the 11 batters he faced in a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That proved to be the last time he pitched in 2022, as Kranick experienced tightness in his right forearm. On June 3, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Kranick would be out 14 to 16 months.

“We’re always, in the back of our minds, when any position player or pitcher injures their forearm or elbow that it could end up here, but we were optimistic at the point,” Tomczyk said. “He actually did return to full major league competition. Re-injuries do happen, new injuries do happen to similar body parts.

“Max went through the full gamut. He worked his tail off to get back into major league competition, which he did. He was successful. Just bothered him again. We took a deeper dive with the collaboration of our own physicians and others and this was the end result to make sure he has a prolonged career.”

The future: Kranick’s past gives the Pirates hope for the future.

He was a surprising addition to the 40-man roster in November 2020, despite never pitching above the Class A level.

Then Kranick made major league history in June 2021. He became the first pitcher to be perfect and complete a start (at least five innings) in his debut when he retired the first 15 batters he faced before being removed after a rain delay in a 7-2 win at St. Louis.

That was the high point of a rookie season in which he had a 6.28 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 38⅔ innings over nine starts. The 2022 season saw a slight uptick in his four-seam fastball, which improved from an average of 94.2 mph in 2021 to 95.1 mph last season, when opponents batted .167 against his bread-and-butter pitch.

The TJ surgery will require a year of recovery, meaning there is no offseason for Kranick.

“Just coming back from TJ,” Tomczyk said, “he will be on some type of a throwing program probably the majority of the first half and into the second half of the season.”

That could put Kranick’s spot on the 40-man roster in jeopardy, given that the Pirates are looking to acquire a starting pitcher and bolster their bullpen. He survived the first few rounds of cuts, but it will be interesting to see if the Pirates protect Kranick, knowing that he might not be able to pitch, at the earliest, until late in the 2023 season.