Max Kranick Bio
Max Joseph Kranick, born on July 21, 1997, in Archbald, Pennsylvania, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets, making his MLB debut in 2021. A right-handed starter during his early MLB appearances, Kranick is best known for a historic debut in which he set a record by retiring the first 15 batters he faced to begin a major league career.
Kranick was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2016 MLB Draft and rose through the organization’s minor league system before reaching the majors. After undergoing elbow surgery in 2022 and a brief return to the minors, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets in early 2024. Following additional arm procedures in 2025, Kranick became a free agent at the end of that season.
Early Life and Background
Max Joseph Kranick grew up in Archbald, Pennsylvania, a small community in Lackawanna County in the northeastern part of the state. He attended Valley View High School, where he developed as a pitcher and emerged as a notable amateur prospect. During his high school career, Kranick posted an impressive 1.17 earned run average, a figure that reflected both his strikeout ability and his command on the mound.
Coming out of his senior year, Kranick was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the club for $300,000 and chose to forgo his commitment to the University of Virginia in order to begin his professional career. His decision to turn pro at 18 set him on a clear developmental path within the Pittsburgh organization.
Path to Baseball
Kranick’s professional journey began in the summer of 2016, when he made his debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates. Over nine appearances, including six starts, he went 1–2 with a 2.43 ERA, showing early signs of promise. The following year, he split time between the GCL Pirates and the Bristol Pirates of the Appalachian League, posting a combined 1–0 record and 1.11 ERA across five starts.
In 2018, Kranick advanced to the West Virginia Power of the Single-A South Atlantic League, where he went 4–5 with a 3.81 ERA over 17 games and 16 starts. The next season, he moved up to the Bradenton Marauders of the High-A Florida State League, finishing with a 6–7 record and a 3.79 ERA across 20 starts. After the canceled 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pittsburgh added Kranick to its 40-man roster in November 2020 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Max Kranick Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Kranick spent his first four professional seasons working his way through Pittsburgh’s minor league affiliates, progressing steadily from Rookie ball to High-A. He showed flashes of strong performance, particularly during his 2017 stint in the Appalachian League, where his 1.11 ERA demonstrated his ability to miss bats and limit damage.
After two full seasons at the Single-A and High-A levels, Kranick was in line for further advancement in 2020 before the pandemic halted play. Pittsburgh’s decision to add him to the 40-man roster signaled the organization’s belief in his long-term potential as a starting pitcher.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2021–2023)
Kranick opened the 2021 season with the Double-A Northeast’s Altoona Curve before being promoted to the Triple-A East’s Indianapolis Indians in late May. On June 27, 2021, he was called up to the majors to start against the St. Louis Cardinals. He threw five perfect innings, striking out three batters, before a rain delay forced his removal from the game. In the process, he set the MLB record for most consecutive batters retired to begin a major league career, with 15. Over nine starts with Pittsburgh that year, Kranick went 2–3 with a 6.28 ERA and 32 strikeouts across 38⅔ innings.
Kranick began the 2022 season back at Triple-A Indianapolis before undergoing Tommy John surgery in early June, which sidelined him indefinitely. He was activated from the injured list on September 1, 2023, but did not return to the major leagues for Pittsburgh. On January 5, 2024, the Pirates designated him for assignment.
New York Mets Era (2024–2025)
On January 12, 2024, Kranick was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. After beginning the year on the injured list, he made six starts across the Mets’ lower affiliates — Single-A St. Lucie, Double-A Binghamton, and Triple-A Syracuse — combining for a 4.30 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 14⅔ innings. On May 6, the Mets designated him for assignment, but he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Syracuse on May 11. His contract was later selected back to the major league roster on October 1.
Kranick was named to the Mets’ Opening Day roster for the 2025 season. He was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on June 3 before being recalled on June 13. In 24 appearances for New York in 2025, he recorded a 3–2 record with a 3.65 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 37 innings. On July 18, it was announced that he would require a second Tommy John surgery, though it was later revealed on August 3 that he had instead undergone a flexor tendon procedure. On November 21, 2025, the Mets non-tendered Kranick, making him a free agent.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kranick’s most celebrated moment came on June 27, 2021, when he retired the first 15 batters he faced to begin his major league career, setting an MLB record. He also signed one of the larger 11th-round bonuses of the 2016 draft class at $300,000 and reached the majors within five years of being drafted.
Max Kranick Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Kranick has compiled a regular-season record as both a starter and a reliever with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets. His most productive major league season statistically came in 2025, when he logged three wins and a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances for the Mets.
MLB Highlights
Kranick’s first MLB victory came during his rookie season with the Pirates in 2021, when he finished the year with two wins over nine starts. He added his third, fourth, and fifth major league wins during the 2025 campaign with the Mets, working primarily out of the bullpen after his midseason recall from Triple-A.
Max Kranick Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Max Joseph Kranick was raised in Archbald, Pennsylvania, where he attended Valley View High School and developed into a draft-eligible prospect. Limited public information is available regarding his immediate family members or his personal life away from baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Kranick entered 2025 on the Mets’ Opening Day roster after being outrighted and recalled multiple times the previous year. He was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse in early June but returned to the major league club on June 13, settling into a relief role for the remainder of his active stretch. Across 24 appearances, he produced a 3–2 record and a 3.65 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 37 innings.
His season ended on July 18, when the Mets announced he would require a second Tommy John surgery; the team clarified on August 3 that he had instead undergone a flexor tendon procedure. The Mets non-tendered Kranick on November 21, 2025, returning him to free agency as he continues his recovery.