The Athletics signed left-handed pitcher Matt Krook to a minor league contract late final week, in line with his transaction log on MLB.com. The 30-year-old elected free company earlier this month.
Eleven years in the past, the Marlins chosen Krook out of highschool in Aggressive Steadiness Spherical A of the 2013 draft. Whereas he deliberate to signal a contract, the workforce found a left shoulder damage throughout his bodily, and the 2 sides have been unable to come back to phrases on a signing bonus. Issues continued to go downhill for Krook when an elbow damage minimize his freshman season on the College of Oregon quick; he would bear Tommy John surgical procedure that spring.
The Giants took Krook within the fourth spherical of the 2016 draft, and this time he signed a deal and entered the group. After components of two seasons in San Francisco’s farm system, he was included within the commerce that introduced Evan Longoria from the Rays to the Giants. Three years later, the Yankees chosen Krook away from the Rays within the minor league part of the Rule 5 draft, and one other two years after that, they added him to the 40-man roster to forestall him from electing minor league company.
The Yankees made Krook a full-time reliever in 2023, and he kicked off his main league profession that very same season. Tossing 4 innings throughout 4 separate stints with the large league membership, he gave up 11 earned runs, strolling six and placing out simply three. It was no shock that management points have been his downfall; he got here into his MLB debut with a profession 14.3% stroll fee within the minors. Regardless of his ever-present management issues, his minor league numbers have been glorious that 12 months (1.32 ERA, 2.81 FIP in 34 IP), besides, they weren’t sufficient to cease New York from designating him for task over the offseason.
The Orioles put in a declare and despatched the Yankees money to accumulate the lefty. Though he appeared strong over 43 2/3 frames with Triple-A Norfolk (3.92 ERA, 4.49 FIP), Krook solely obtained the possibility to pitch one inning with the O’s in 2024. He allowed three runs (two earned) on a three-run shot off the bat of Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford. Whereas he technically lowered his profession ERA from 24.75 to 23.40, it wasn’t the image-rehabilitating exhibiting he was absolutely hoping for. Baltimore DFA’d Krook on the commerce deadline and outrighted him to Triple-A a number of days later.
Krook will look to get one other crack on the majors in 2025, this time with the A’s. Exterior of star nearer Mason Miller, the Athletics don’t have a lot in the best way of top-end expertise or depth within the bullpen, so Krook ought to have a transparent path to taking part in time if he pitches properly. His minor league deal presumably contains an invite to spring coaching, the place he’ll have his first likelihood to make a very good impression on his new membership.
