BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates went over-slot on 2016 11th round right-handed pitcher Max Kranick, giving him a $300,000 bonus to break his commitment to UVA. That amount was $200,000 above the slot price for picks after the 10th round, continuing a practice for the Pirates to go over-slot on the first pick on day three.
In the past, the Pirates have taken this same approach when signing Erich Weiss (2013) and Gage Hinsz (2014). Last year they gave their 11th round pick, Christian Kelley, the maximum $100,000 bonus, while doing the same for 12th rounder Ty Moore. They used the over-slot money on several later round picks, rather than one big signing.
There’s a reason the Pirates went over-slot on Kranick. He’s a high school pitcher who has already been hitting 95-96 MPH. He also has a projectable frame, giving him the chance to add some velocity as he adds some weight and muscle, and hopefully being able to sit in the mid-90s, rather than just touching that range.
This has already played out for the young right-hander. He was hitting 94 during the 2015 season, but did some weight training during the off-season and gained 20 pounds. This helped to push his velocity up a few ticks, also pushing him to sit in the low-90s. The reason for the focus on velocity was all about the draft.
“You’re not going to get drafted high unless you have good velocity,” Kranick said.
The Pirates definitely noticed. Kranick said they had someone watching every single one of his starts this year. The main guy watching him was area scout Dan Radcliff, who was responsible for drafting Brandon Waddell last year. Radcliff talked to Kranick on day two of the draft, but called him on day three and said they’d be taking him at some point that day. It didn’t take long for them to call his name, going with him with their first pick on day three.
Kranick’s fastball velocity is a good sign, and while he’s got some mechanical issues to work through, he’s projected to have good control in the future. At the moment, he doesn’t have a good off-speed pitch, which will be a big focus going forward.
In writing about fellow 2016 draft picks Travis MacGregor and Braeden Ogle, I noted that their parents restricted them from throwing breaking pitches at a young age, which led to them getting a lot more comfortable with their changeups. Kranick also didn’t throw a breaking pitch at a very young age, adding a breaking pitch at age 14-15, and as a result, feels that his changeup is in a good place.
The pre-draft reports said that he shows promise with his changeup, and shows the ability to spin a curveball. That curveball actually is a new pitch, added this year to replace his slider. His slider was inconsistent, supposed to be more of a cutter, but getting slower and looking like a slurve at times, which wasn’t the desired approach. It also didn’t lead to a lot of strikeouts, which led to the need for a new pitch.
“I think it was more of a scout thing,” Kranick said on the reason for the switch. “I think scouts wanted to see me be able to spin it more, because the slider would just pick up wherever, really. It’s a pretty easy pitch to learn, but a curveball takes time to develop.”
The curveball has a sharp 12-to-6 break, but is inconsistent, which you’d expect from a new pitch.
“It’s pretty sharp,” Kranick said. “It depends on the day really, but I’m definitely working on it. I think some days it’s sharper than others, but it’s getting there.”
The biggest reason for the inconsistent movement has been his release point, with Kranick trying to release the ball out in front of his body on a consistent basis. The pre-draft reports had his curveball as a potential average to above average pitch, which is a good early sign for a new pitch.
There’s a lot to like about Kranick’s upside, but at the same time he’s a bit of a project. The velocity stands out, and there’s a chance for more as he continues to fill out his frame. The off-speed pitches are works in progress, but he shows promising signs with each, feeling comfortable with his changeup and showing good early ability with the curve. Despite being a project, you can see why the Pirates decided to make him their big over-slot investment on day three of the draft.
Kranick makes his pro debut this afternoon at Pirate City, pitching after Nick Kingham, and likely going two innings to start his career. I will have live coverage of the start in the Prospect Watch.
