Max Kranick grew up a Mets fan. His favorite player? David Wright. On January 12, 2024 he got the call every kid dreams of getting from the team they grew up watching when the Mets claimed him off of waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates and turned his favorite team growing up into the team he would report to work for in February.
On Monday, Kranick went from playing against the Mets to putting the blue and orange on as he took the mound for Mets in his 2024 grapefruit league debut.
He was perfect in his debut, throwing two hitless innings and striking out two in the Mets’ 6-3 win over the Washington Nationals.
Photo by Ed Delaney, MMO
“It was exciting to get back out there,” said Kranick. “It was nice to be able to face a different uniform and get some of that adrenaline going. I thought I was efficient out there and it went really well,” he said. “Definitely encouraging.”
Kranick was drafted by the Pirates in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He has appeared in nine big league games with the Pirates, but ended up missing most of 2022 and 2023 due to Tommy John surgery. To come back strong and healthy this season—and pitch with confidence—is a big step for him.
Mets new manager Carlos Mendoza echoed Kranick’s thoughts of his first appearance. “He did a really good job,” said Mendoza. “Before he got hurt he had really good stuff and then last year when he got back he was a little timid, so it was really good to see him attack the zone and the conviction he was throwing his pitches,” Mendoza stated.
Kranick has recently added in a two-seam fastball to his repertoire, which he believes will be a weapon for him in 2024. He threw a few two-seams to some of the Nationals’ lefties on Monday and was able to throw it with conviction and get some swings and misses off of as well, which he was excited about.
“Just going out there and gripping it and saying I’m going to drive this through the catcher and it’s going to do what it’s going to do was a huge step,” he said. “I’m excited to use it more, I think it’s going to open a lot of doors for me.”
With Kodai Senga likely out for the next several months, Kranick has the chance to impress and potentially earn a spot on his dream team’s Opening Day roster. When asked how he likes playing for the Mets, Kranick had just three words and a smile: “I love it.”
“It was my favorite team growing up,” he said with an ecstatic smile on his face. “We had tickets to Shea [Stadium] for a couple years, so yeah it’s been great. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.”
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