His path to the major leagues has been anything but ordinary. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round back in 2016, the now 27-year-old pitcher has seen limited action at the MLB level. He originally committed to play college ball at the University of Virginia but chose instead to begin his pro career with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates in 2016. Over the next few years, he climbed the minor league ladder, reaching Single-A in 2018 and High-A in 2019. After missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-related cancellation of the minor league year, he advanced to Double-A and then Triple-A in 2021.
That same year, on June 27, he made his big-league debut with Pittsburgh, making a splash by retiring the first 15 batters he faced—setting a new MLB record. Despite the strong start, he finished the season with a 6.28 ERA across 38.2 innings. In 2022, he began the season in Triple-A but underwent Tommy John surgery in June, which sidelined him until he returned to the roster in September 2023, though he didn’t appear in any games. In early 2024, the Pirates designated him for assignment, and the Mets picked him up shortly after.
His perseverance paid off when he earned a spot on the Mets’ 2025 Opening Day roster. The moment became even more meaningful when he received a congratulatory text from his childhood idol—Mets legend David Wright.
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“He was my favorite player growing up, so definitely a special moment,” Kranick shared.
Wright, who spent his entire 14-year MLB career with the Mets, was a seven-time All-Star and won both Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards twice. He wrapped up his career with a .296 batting average, 242 home runs, and 970 RBIs.
