Drafted in the 6th round (188th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2016 (signed for $100,000).
View Draft Report
Southern California lost its opening series to North Dakota at home and never seemed to recover, sitting around .500 all season. However, the Trojans likely will have as many or more players drafted than any Pac-12 team, with Kriske surging toward the front of the field as a priority senior who has stuff and has performed. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder used to top out around 90 mph in the past but improved his velocity significantly this season, with scouts saying he's hit 95-96 mph regularly with his fastball. His secondary stuff was raw when he came to Troy, but his breaking ball has become a serviceable pitch. At times, it's a true slider with depth and tilt, earning average grades. Kriske should wind up a priority senior sign this year.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
TRACK RECORD: A near-exclusive reliever at Southern California, Kriske showed a big uptick in velocity between his junior and senior seasons and earned a $100,000 bonus from New York. He had Tommy John surgery roughly two months after his pro debut, then dominated for two seasons in the minors upon his return. He was added to the 40-man after the 2019 season, then made four big league appearances in 2020.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kriske works primarily with two pitches--a mid-90s fastball that peaked at 97 in the big leagues, as well as a splitter with devastating trap-door action in the high 80s. He also uses a low- 80s slider, but threw it just seven times in the big leagues. The Yankees particularly like the riding action Kriske gets on his four-seamer. Now they'd like to see him command his splitter and slider better in order to make them more effective.
THE FUTURE: Kriske should have a shot at returning to the big leagues to open 2021. He has a ceiling as a middle-innings reliever who can strike out plenty of hitters.
Draft Prospects
Southern California lost its opening series to North Dakota at home and never seemed to recover, sitting around .500 all season. However, the Trojans likely will have as many or more players drafted than any Pac-12 team, with Kriske surging toward the front of the field as a priority senior who has stuff and has performed. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder used to top out around 90 mph in the past but improved his velocity significantly this season, with scouts saying he's hit 95-96 mph regularly with his fastball. His secondary stuff was raw when he came to Troy, but his breaking ball has become a serviceable pitch. At times, it's a true slider with depth and tilt, earning average grades. Kriske should wind up a priority senior sign this year.
Scouting Reports
TRACK RECORD: A near-exclusive reliever at Southern California, Kriske showed a big uptick in velocity between his junior and senior seasons and earned a $100,000 bonus from New York. He had Tommy John surgery roughly two months after his pro debut, then dominated for two seasons in the minors upon his return. He was added to the 40-man after the 2019 season, then made four big league appearances in 2020.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kriske works primarily with two pitches--a mid-90s fastball that peaked at 97 in the big leagues, as well as a splitter with devastating trap-door action in the high 80s. He also uses a low- 80s slider, but threw it just seven times in the big leagues. The Yankees particularly like the riding action Kriske gets on his four-seamer. Now they'd like to see him command his splitter and slider better in order to make them more effective.
THE FUTURE: Kriske should have a shot at returning to the big leagues to open 2021. He has a ceiling as a middle-innings reliever who can strike out plenty of hitters.
TRACK RECORD: A near-exclusive reliever at Southern California, Kriske showed a big uptick in velocity between his junior and senior seasons and earned a $100,000 bonus from New York. He had Tommy John surgery roughly two months after his pro debut, then dominated for two seasons in the minors upon his return. He was added to the 40-man after the 2019 season, then made four big league appearances in 2020.
SCOUTING REPORT: Kriske works primarily with two pitches--a mid-90s fastball that peaked at 97 in the big leagues, as well as a splitter with devastating trap-door action in the high 80s. He also uses a low- 80s slider, but threw it just seven times in the big leagues. The Yankees particularly like the riding action Kriske gets on his four-seamer. Now they'd like to see him command his splitter and slider better in order to make them more effective.
THE FUTURE: Kriske should have a shot at returning to the big leagues to open 2021. He has a ceiling as a middle-innings reliever who can strike out plenty of hitters.
Southern California lost its opening series to North Dakota at home and never seemed to recover, sitting around .500 all season. However, the Trojans likely will have as many or more players drafted than any Pac-12 team, with Kriske surging toward the front of the field as a priority senior who has stuff and has performed. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder used to top out around 90 mph in the past but improved his velocity significantly this season, with scouts saying he's hit 95-96 mph regularly with his fastball. His secondary stuff was raw when he came to Troy, but his breaking ball has become a serviceable pitch. At times, it's a true slider with depth and tilt, earning average grades. Kriske should wind up a priority senior sign this year.
Career Transactions
RHP Brooks Kriske elected free agency.
Baltimore Orioles activated RHP Brooks Kriske.
Baltimore Orioles recalled RHP Brooks Kriske from Norfolk Tides.
Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP Brooks Kriske to Norfolk Tides.
Baltimore Orioles claimed RHP Brooks Kriske off waivers from Cincinnati Reds.
Cincinnati Reds designated RHP Brooks Kriske for assignment.
Louisville Bats activated RHP Brooks Kriske from the temporarily inactive list.
Louisville Bats placed RHP Brooks Kriske on the temporarily inactive list.
Louisville Bats activated RHP Brooks Kriske.
Cincinnati Reds optioned RHP Brooks Kriske to Louisville Bats.
Cincinnati Reds selected the contract of RHP Brooks Kriske from Louisville Bats.
Cincinnati Reds reassigned RHP Brooks Kriske to the minor leagues.
Kansas City Royals released RHP Brooks Kriske.
Omaha Storm Chasers placed RHP Brooks Kriske on the temporarily inactive list.
Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Brooks Kriske to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals selected the contract of RHP Brooks Kriske from Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals selected the contract of RHP Brooks Kriske from Omaha Storm Chasers.
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