Brooks Kriske

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #28 prospect in 2021
  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

• Ranked #295 prospect in 2016 draft
  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.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  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.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  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.
• December, 2015 Scouting 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.