Max Kranick

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #30 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Kranick fell to the 11th round in 2016 because of signability concerns stemming from his commitment to Virginia. The Pirates stopped his slide and convinced him to sign for an over-slot $300,000 bonus. Kranick kick-started his development with solid seasons at low Class A in 2018 and high Class A in 2019. The Pirates brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kranick dealt with shoulder fatigue and tightness early in his career, so he turned to former major league reliever Vic Black to help with weighted ball drills to increase strength. He also shortened his arm path and gained velocity throughout the process. Kranick's fastball sat 93-94 mph and touched 98 at the Pirates' alternate training site. He ditched his two-seam fastball entirely, instead focusing on his four-seamer and curveball combination. His four-seamer features more movement up in the zone and he worked with former big league closer Joel Hanrahan on tunneling the curveball to look like the fastball out of the hand. Kranick also has an average slider and below-average changeup. He throws strikes with above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kranick should start in Double-A in 2021. His newfound velocity and arm strength give him a good chance to reach the majors.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #23 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Kranick fell to the Pirates in the 11th round in 2016 due to signability concerns, but signed for $300,000 to break his commitment to Virginia. After a stop-and-go start to his pro career, he reached high Class A Bradenton in 2019 and turned in a 3.79 ERA over 20 starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kranick has shown above-average control since turning pro and made improvements and adjustments to his pitch selection last season. After sitting in the low-90s with his fastball in 2018, he began sitting 94-96 mph and touching 97 in 2019. Kranick's fastball stands out, but his other pitches need work. He switched from a 12-to-6 curveball to a hard slider he typically throws in the mid-80s, though he will throw it harder at times with more cutter action. He also has a changeup he has flashed feel for since high school. Kranick used all three of his pitches by the end of the year and finished strong with a 2.95 ERA in his final 10 starts before reaching his innings limit.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kranick shows the makings of a potential back-of-the-rotation starter with his improving fastball and sharp control. He'll need to improve his secondaries.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #84 prospect in 2016 draft
  Kranick emerged early as a potential prospect, showing promising mid-80s velocity and a loose arm as an underclassmen. He's made steady progress throughout his prep career, and made a particularly noticeable jump in physicality and velocity this spring. His fastball is his best pitch, sitting in the low 90s and bumping 95 at times. His curveball shows flashes, showing average bite at times, though it is more of a fringe-average pitch at present because of its lack of consistently tight spin and its sometimes-early breaking point. Some scouts see his changeup as his best secondary weapon going forward. He hasn't thrown the pitch often in his high school season, but showed feel for the pitch on the summer showcase circuit, particularly at the Tournament of Stars, where the pitch induced swings and misses from some of the country's top hitters. Kranick has a sturdy 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame that still has some room to fill out. He is committed to Virginia, and could be an immediate contributor if he is not selected high enough to sign out of high school.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Kranick fell to the 11th round in 2016 because of signability concerns stemming from his commitment to Virginia. The Pirates stopped his slide and convinced him to sign for an over-slot $300,000 bonus. Kranick kick-started his development with solid seasons at low Class A in 2018 and high Class A in 2019. The Pirates brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kranick dealt with shoulder fatigue and tightness early in his career, so he turned to former major league reliever Vic Black to help with weighted ball drills to increase strength. He also shortened his arm path and gained velocity throughout the process. Kranick's fastball sat 93-94 mph and touched 98 at the Pirates' alternate training site. He ditched his two-seam fastball entirely, instead focusing on his four-seamer and curveball combination. His four-seamer features more movement up in the zone and he worked with former big league closer Joel Hanrahan on tunneling the curveball to look like the fastball out of the hand. Kranick also has an average slider and below-average changeup. He throws strikes with above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kranick should start in Double-A in 2021. His newfound velocity and arm strength give him a good chance to reach the majors.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Kranick fell to the 11th round in 2016 because of signability concerns stemming from his commitment to Virginia. The Pirates stopped his slide and convinced him to sign for an over-slot $300,000 bonus. Kranick kick-started his development with solid seasons at low Class A in 2018 and high Class A in 2019. The Pirates brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kranick dealt with shoulder fatigue and tightness early in his career, so he turned to former major league reliever Vic Black to help with weighted ball drills to increase strength. He also shortened his arm path and gained velocity throughout the process. Kranick's fastball sat 93-94 mph and touched 98 at the Pirates' alternate training site. He ditched his two-seam fastball entirely, instead focusing on his four-seamer and curveball combination. His four-seamer features more movement up in the zone and he worked with former big league closer Joel Hanrahan on tunneling the curveball to look like the fastball out of the hand. Kranick also has an average slider and below-average changeup. He throws strikes with above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kranick should start in Double-A in 2021. His newfound velocity and arm strength give him a good chance to reach the majors.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Kranick fell to the 11th round in 2016 because of signability concerns stemming from his commitment to Virginia. The Pirates stopped his slide and convinced him to sign for an over-slot $300,000 bonus. Kranick kick-started his development with solid seasons at low Class A in 2018 and high Class A in 2019. The Pirates brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and added him to the 40-man roster after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kranick dealt with shoulder fatigue and tightness early in his career, so he turned to former major league reliever Vic Black to help with weighted ball drills to increase strength. He also shortened his arm path and gained velocity throughout the process. Kranick's fastball sat 93-94 mph and touched 98 at the Pirates' alternate training site. He ditched his two-seam fastball entirely, instead focusing on his four-seamer and curveball combination. His four-seamer features more movement up in the zone and he worked with former big league closer Joel Hanrahan on tunneling the curveball to look like the fastball out of the hand. Kranick also has an average slider and below-average changeup. He throws strikes with above-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kranick should start in Double-A in 2021. His newfound velocity and arm strength give him a good chance to reach the majors.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Kranick fell to the Pirates in the 11th round in 2016 due to signability concerns, but signed for $300,000 to break his commitment to Virginia. After a stop-and-go start to his pro career, he reached high Class A Bradenton in 2019 and turned in a 3.79 ERA over 20 starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kranick has shown above-average control since turning pro and made improvements and adjustments to his pitch selection last season. After sitting in the low-90s with his fastball in 2018, he began sitting 94-96 mph and touching 97 in 2019. Kranick’s fastball stands out, but his other pitches need work. He switched from a 12-to-6 curveball to a hard slider he typically throws in the mid-80s, though he will throw it harder at times with more cutter action. He also has a changeup he has flashed feel for since high school. Kranick used all three of his pitches by the end of the year and finished strong with a 2.95 ERA in his final 10 starts before reaching his innings limit.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kranick shows the makings of a potential back-of-the-rotation starter with his improving fastball and sharp control. He’ll need to improve his secondaries.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Kranick fell to the Pirates in the 11th round in 2016 due to signability concerns, but signed for $300,000 to break his commitment to Virginia. After a stop-and-go start to his pro career, he reached high Class A Bradenton in 2019 and turned in a 3.79 ERA over 20 starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Kranick has shown above-average control since turning pro and made improvements and adjustments to his pitch selection last season. After sitting in the low-90s with his fastball in 2018, he began sitting 94-96 mph and touching 97 in 2019. Kranick's fastball stands out, but his other pitches need work. He switched from a 12-to-6 curveball to a hard slider he typically throws in the mid-80s, though he will throw it harder at times with more cutter action. He also has a changeup he has flashed feel for since high school. Kranick used all three of his pitches by the end of the year and finished strong with a 2.95 ERA in his final 10 starts before reaching his innings limit.
  
  THE FUTURE: Kranick shows the makings of a potential back-of-the-rotation starter with his improving fastball and sharp control. He'll need to improve his secondaries.