Brooks Joseph Kriske (/ˈkrɪski/ KRIS-kee;[1] born February 3, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and Saitama Seibu Lions.

Brooks Kriske
Kriske with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2023
Chicago Cubs
Pitcher
Born: (1994-02-03) February 3, 1994 (age 30)
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: July 29, 2020, for the New York Yankees
NPB: April 12, 2022, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record2–1
Earned run average11.22
Strikeouts25
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record1–1
Earned run average2.31
Strikeouts39
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Amateur career

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Kriske played all four years of varsity baseball at Palm Desert High School in Palm Desert, California. He helped his team to three consecutive California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Finals from 2010–2012, winning the CIF state championships in 2010 and 2012. Kriske pitched a complete-game shutout in the final in 2012. He was a two-time All State selection.[2]

Kriske attended the University of Southern California (USC) and played college baseball for the USC Trojans. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB draft.[3]

Professional career

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New York Yankees

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Kriske began his professional career in 2016 with the Staten Island Yankees.[4] He underwent Tommy John surgery that year, and subsequently missed the 2017 season.[5] He was an all-star in the Florida State League pitching for the Tampa Tarpons before being promoted to Double-A with the Trenton Thunder. The Yankees added him to their 40-man roster after the 2019 season, before being optioned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of Triple-A in March 2020.[2]

Kriske was added to the Yankees' active roster on July 26, 2020.[6] He made his major league debut on July 29 against the Baltimore Orioles, striking out two batters and walking one in an inning of relief.[7] For the shortened 2020 season, Kriske appeared in four games without registering a decision, while pitching to a 14.73 earned run average (ERA) while striking out eight batters in 3 23 innings.[8]

Kriske began the 2021 season in Triple-A with the RailRiders.[9] He was recalled by the Yankees twice in June and once in July.[10][11] On July 21, Kriske recorded his first major league win, throwing a scoreless 10th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies, as the Yankees scored in the bottom half of the inning to win.[12] The next day, Kriske was again used in extra innings, this time in a save situation against the Boston Red Sox. However, he blew the save and took the loss, tying the MLB regular-season record by throwing four wild pitches in the inning.[13][14] He was optioned to Triple-A after the game.[11] On September 14, the Yankees designated Kriske for assignment. [15]

Baltimore Orioles

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Kriske was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles two days later on September 16 and sent to the Norfolk Tides.[16] After pitching a scoreless inning in his only Tides appearance, he was promoted to the Orioles on September 19.[17] He made his Orioles debut in a 4–3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 22. The only batter he faced was Andrew McCutchen whose foul out to the catcher stranded two base runners to end the seventh inning.[18] After appearing in four games with a 12.27 ERA in 3 23 innings, Kriske requested, and was granted his release to pursue an international opportunity on November 30.[19]

Yokohama DeNA BayStars

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Kriske with the BayStars in 2022

On December 8, 2021, Kriske signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.[20]

Kansas City Royals

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Kriske with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023

On December 15, 2022, Kriske signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. [21] He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin the 2023 season, posting a 6.00 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 5 saves in 27.0 innings pitched. On June 18, 2023, Kriske had his contract selected to the major league roster.[22] In 4 games for the Royals, he recorded a 4.05 ERA with 6 strikeouts in 6 23 innings pitched. On July 21, Kriske requested and was granted his released by the Royals to continue his career in Japan.[23]

Saitama Seibu Lions

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On July 26, 2023, Kriske signed a $320,000 contract with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[24] He became a free agent after the 2023 season.

Cincinnati Reds

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On December 21, 2023, Kriske signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.[25] On June 17, 2024, the Reds added Kriske to their 40–man roster to prevent him from exercising the opt–out clause in his contract.[26] In 42 appearances for the Triple–A Louisville Bats, he compiled a 5–0 record and 3.10 ERA with 72 strikeouts across 49 13 innings pitched. Kriske was designated for assignment following the signing of Dominic Smith on August 22.[27]

Baltimore Orioles (second stint)

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On August 25, 2024, Kriske was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[28] In 8 games for the Triple–A Norfolk Tides, he posted a 5.00 ERA with 9 strikeouts across 9 innings pitched. Kriske elected free agency following the season on October 31.

Chicago Cubs

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On November 29, 2024, Kriske signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.[29]

Personal life

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Kriske is named after Brooks Robinson.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders roster, as of Sunday, May 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021
  2. ^ a b "Kriske Discusses His Journey". lastwordonsports.com. January 13, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "Reliever ready for second chance with S.I. Yankees". silive. June 15, 2018.
  4. ^ "Brooks Kriske Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Media, Sean Miller | For NJ Advance (July 18, 2019). "Thunder reliever Brooks Kriske is better than ever after Tommy John surgery". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Hoch, Bryan. "Notes: Frazier optioned; Andújar in left field". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  7. ^ Hoch, Bryan. "Cole: Sánchez's 'familiarity' key to win vs. O's". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "Brooks Kriske Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "Brooks Kriske Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "Yankees Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. June 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Yankees Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. July 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  12. ^ Tredinnick, Andrew (July 21, 2021). "Ryan LaMarre lifts New York Yankees to fourth straight win with walk-off hit in 10th". The Record. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  13. ^ Goodman, Max (July 23, 2021). "Brooks Kriske's Disastrous Night Was Historically Wild". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 23, 2021 – via MSN.com.
  14. ^ "Wild Pitch Records". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  15. ^ "Yankees Designate Brooks Kriske, Re-Sign Sal Romano". September 14, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Powers, Shad. "Changing Major League teams, Brooks Kriske dropped by Yankees, picked up by Orioles," The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA), Monday, September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021
  17. ^ Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles add relievers Eshelman and Kriske to active roster," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Sunday, September 19, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021
  18. ^ Trezza, Joe. "Kriske realizes lifelong dream with O's debut," MLB.com, Wednesday, September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021
  19. ^ Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles remove Kriske, Fox from 40-man roster (with multiple updates)," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021
  20. ^ Darragh McDonald (December 8, 2021). "Brooks Kriske Signs With NPB's Yokohama DeNA BayStars". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  21. ^ "Royals Sign Cody Poteet, Brooks Kriske to Minor League Deals". December 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "Royals' Brooks Kriske: Promoted from Omaha". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  23. ^ "Brooks Kriske: Set for release". cbssports.com. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  24. ^ "Seibu won the right arm Chriskey and played for DeNA last season". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  25. ^ "Reds Sign Brooks Kriske to Minor League Deal". December 21, 2023.
  26. ^ "Reds Select Brooks Kriske". mlbtraderumors.com. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  27. ^ "Reds Designate Brooks Kriske For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  28. ^ "Orioles Claim Brooks Kriske, Designate Nick Vespi For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  29. ^ "Cubs To Sign Brooks Kriske". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 29, 2024.


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