Matt Krook Seeks Redemption

SAN FRANCISCO—Years from now, Matt Krook could personify the classic riches-to-rags-to-riches story. At the moment, he has gotten merely through Act II.

The Giants selected Krook, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound lefthander from Oregon, in the fourth round last year.

Three years earlier, the Marlins had chosen Krook considerably higher. They made him the 35th overall pick out of San Francisco’s St. Ignatius’ High but withdrew their contract offer after Krook failed his physical.

Krook instead went to Oregon. He was dominant his freshman season with a 1.79 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 45.1 innings before leaving the mound because of arm stiffness during a game in early April.

Soon thereafter, Krook had Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the rest of the 2014 season and all of 2015.

Krook returned last year and still overwhelmed hitters with 68 strikeouts in 53.2 innings, but a loss of control also led to 49 walks and a 5.03 ERA.

“I was pretty down on myself at Oregon,” Krook told the Salem (Ore.) Statesman Journal in July. “Things didn’t go the way I wanted them to . . . I just couldn’t find the strike zone.”

That didn’t deter the Giants.

“We like him a lot and believe that he was a first-round pick out of high school for a reason,” general manager Bobby Evans said.

Krook maintained high strikeout and walk rates in his first pro season. In 40.2 innings in the Rookie-level Arizona League and short-season Salem-Keizer, he fanned 41 and walked 35.

Evans isn’t sure whether the 22-year-old Krook ultimately will be a starter or reliever but figures he’ll be a starter for a while in an effort to harness his stuff.

“There’s always a tweak or two (in a pitcher’s delivery that can improve control) but it comes with innings,” Evans said. “Getting him innings as a starter will only speed up the process.”.

GIANTICS

• The Giants invited shortstop Christian Arroyo and righthander Tyler Beede, their top two prospects, to big league spring training.

• The Giants signed former University of San Francisco catcher Travis Higgs to a minor league deal.

— Steve Kroner covers the Giants for the San Francisco Chronicle