Matt Krook Bio
Matthew Edward Krook is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Athletics organization. He has pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, and has spent parts of his career in the minor league systems of several organizations. Krook played college baseball for the Oregon Ducks and was selected by the Miami Marlins in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft and the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB draft.
Standing out for a fastball that has played in both starting and relief roles, Krook has built his career on a circuitous route through professional baseball, recovering from a shoulder issue, undergoing Tommy John surgery, and reinventing himself as a power arm out of the bullpen.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Edward Krook was born on October 21, 1994, in Hillsborough, California. He grew up in the Bay Area and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, California, where he pitched for the school’s baseball team. In his senior year, he posted a 2–1 win–loss record with a 1.65 earned run average (ERA), drew national attention, and was named a First Team All-American and All-Region by Perfect Game. MaxPreps also named him to the All-State team, and he was widely considered one of the top prep pitchers eligible for the 2013 MLB draft.
The Miami Marlins selected Krook in the competitive balance round, with the 35th overall pick, of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. Although he had originally intended to sign with the team and the two sides had agreed upon a contract, he failed a physical examination due to an unspecified issue with his left shoulder. The Marlins withdrew their offer and Krook declined to accept a reduced signing bonus.
Path to Baseball
After going undrafted out of high school, Krook enrolled at the University of Oregon to play college baseball with the Oregon Ducks. He was named a Louisville Slugger First-Team Freshman All-American, going 2–1 with a 1.79 ERA and 60 strikeouts. Among his highlights that year were an 11-strikeout performance against Loyola Marymount and a quality start against Hawaii in which he allowed only five hits in seven innings.
Krook’s freshman campaign ended unexpectedly after he felt arm stiffness during a game against Washington State. He elected to undergo Tommy John surgery on April 22, with the procedure performed by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. He did not pitch his sophomore season, although he expressed interest in playing in the 2015 NCAA tournament and would have agreed to burn his redshirt had the Ducks advanced past the Springfield Regional. In the summer of 2015, he pitched for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League, going 0–1 with a 6.35 ERA and 15 strikeouts in six starts.
Matt Krook Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
The San Francisco Giants selected Krook in the fourth round, with the 125th overall pick, of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed with the Giants, was assigned to the rookie-level Arizona League Giants, and was later promoted to the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. He posted a combined 1–4 record with a 5.53 ERA in 13 games (11 starts) between both teams. He spent 2017 with the High-A San Jose Giants, where he went 4–9 with a 5.12 ERA in 25 games (17 starts).
On December 20, 2017, the Giants traded Krook, along with Christian Arroyo, Denard Span, and Stephen Woods Jr., to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Evan Longoria and cash considerations. Krook spent the 2018 season with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, pitching to a 4–2 record with a 4.26 ERA in 37 games (six starts), and returned to Montgomery to begin 2019. In 32 appearances (18 starts) for the Biscuits, he registered a 2–3 record and 4.50 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York Yankees Era (2020–2024)
On December 10, 2020, the New York Yankees selected Krook from the Rays in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He began the 2021 season with the Double-A Somerset Patriots and was promoted to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders during the year. He started for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Opening Day of the 2022 season and went 10–7 with a 4.09 ERA, setting a franchise record for a season with 155 strikeouts. The previous record had been held by Carlton Loewer since 1997.
On November 10, 2022, the Yankees added Krook to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and he was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin 2023. He transitioned into a relief pitcher that season, posting a 1.04 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 17+1⁄3 innings across 12 games at Triple-A. On May 27, 2023, the Yankees promoted Krook to the major leagues for the first time. After spending time as a phantom ballplayer, he was recalled on June 8 and made his major league debut on June 16 at Fenway Park. In four games for the Yankees, he pitched to a 24.75 ERA with three strikeouts across four innings. He was designated for assignment on February 13, 2024.
Baltimore Orioles (2024)
On February 18, 2024, the Yankees traded Krook to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations, and he was optioned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the season. He was recalled by the Orioles when Corbin Burnes was placed on the paternity list on June 28. He returned to the Tides after surrendering a Wyatt Langford three-run homer in the eighth inning of an 11–2 loss to the Texas Rangers on June 30. Krook was designated for assignment on July 30, cleared waivers, and was outrighted to Norfolk on August 2. He elected free agency following the season on November 4.
Athletics Era (2024–2025)
On November 15, 2024, Krook signed a minor league contract with the Athletics. He made 12 appearances for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, posting a 3–1 record and 3.21 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 14 innings. On May 16, 2025, the Athletics selected his contract and added him to their active roster. In three appearances for the team, he recorded a 5.40 ERA with three strikeouts across 3+2⁄3 innings. He was designated for assignment by the Athletics on May 27, 2025.
On May 29, 2025, Krook was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians. He made 30 appearances for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, posting a 2–0 record and 3.18 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 34 innings. On November 6, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Columbus, and he subsequently rejected the assignment and elected free agency. On November 22, 2025, Krook signed a minor league contract with the Athletics, returning to the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Krook has earned a reputation as a power-armed left-hander who generates swings and misses with a fastball that plays up in the strike zone. He has shown the durability to handle starting duties in the minor leagues and the swing-and-miss profile to thrive in shorter relief stints, allowing organizations to use him in a variety of roles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Krook’s most significant milestones include his 2013 selection by the Miami Marlins in the competitive balance round, his record-setting 155-strikeout season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2022, and his major league debut on June 16, 2023, at Fenway Park. He has navigated two Tommy John-era surgeries and a left shoulder issue, returning to compete in the majors and across multiple organizations.
Matt Krook Career Wins
Matt Krook has notched wins at every level of professional baseball, from the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes to the Triple-A affiliates of several organizations, and has appeared in MLB with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. His most productive seasons have come in relief, where his strikeout rate has consistently stood out.
Minor League Highlights
Krook set a franchise record with 155 strikeouts for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2022, breaking a mark that had stood since 1997. With the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators in 2025, he went 3–1 with a 3.21 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 14 innings, and with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers he posted a 2–0 record and 3.18 ERA with 40 strikeouts across 30 appearances.
Other Wins and Performances
Krook earned a Louisville Slugger First-Team Freshman All-American nod with the Oregon Ducks and was a Cape Cod League participant with the Wareham Gatemen in 2015. At the major league level, he appeared in four games for the Yankees in 2023 and made a brief appearance with the Orioles in 2024.
Matt Krook Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public records about Matt Krook’s family are limited. He grew up in Hillsborough, California, and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco.
Personal Life
Krook’s personal life details are not widely documented in public sources. He was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and has continued to pursue his professional baseball career through multiple organizations.
2025 Season Performance
Krook’s 2025 season has been marked by movement between organizations and roles. He opened the year in Triple-A Las Vegas and was promoted by the Athletics on May 16, 2025, making three appearances before being designated for assignment on May 27. The Cleveland Guardians then claimed him off waivers on May 29, and he spent the bulk of the summer in the Triple-A Columbus Clippers bullpen, going 2–0 with a 3.18 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 30 appearances over 34 innings. He was removed from the 40-man roster on November 6 and elected free agency after rejecting an outright assignment to Columbus.
After reaching free agency, Krook signed a minor league contract with the Athletics on November 22, 2025, returning to the organization that had selected his contract earlier in the year. The move pointed to a continued attempt to recapture the swing-and-miss form he showed in Triple-A and to push for another major league opportunity.