Right-handed pitcher Brooks Kriske got to live out a childhood dream as he recently made his Cubs debut. The 31-year-old returned to the big leagues after spending the 2024 season at Triple-A with two different organizations. Kriske, who grew up cheering for the Cubs, has now been designated for assignment by his childhood team.
On Thursday the Cubs officially signed veteran reliever Génesis Cabrera and added him to the 26-man roster. Cabrera will be in the Cubs bullpen on Friday, when the team begins a three-game series against the Reds. To make room on the roster the Cubs DFA'd Kriske, who made his debut with the team last Saturday in Cincinnati.
Kriske has made 21 total appearances in MLB with the Yankees, Orioles, Royals and the one game with the Cubs.
There's still the possibility that Kriske clears waivers and decides to stay in the Cubs organization, accepting an assignment back at Triple-A.
Brooks Kriske Makes Cubs Debut
Right-handed pitcher Brooks Kriske made his return to MLB this past weekend and he got to do it with his childhood team Chicago Cubs. Kriske was called up from Triple-A on Saturday, after the Cubs designated reliever Julian Merryweather for assignment.
Kriske made his first MLB appearance since 2023, pitching two innings of relief against the Reds. The 31-year-old made a great first impression, entering the game in the sixth inning, when the Reds were up 6-2. Kriske held Cincinnati's offense in check and gave the Cubs a chance to comeback.
The Cubs did fall short, losing 6-4, but what a great moment for the lifelong fan. Kriske was having a fantastic season with the Iowa Cubs prior to his promotion, racking up 28 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work.
We'll see how long Kriske sticks around in the Cubs bullpen. He doesn't have any minor league options left, so if the Cubs replace him on the 26-man roster, then Kriske will have to be DFA'd and put through waivers.
Kriske made his MLB debut with the Yankees back in 2020. The right-hander ha also pitched for the Orioles and Royals. In 2022-23, Kriske pitched in Japan for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and Saitama Seibu Lions.
Brooks Kriske Signs with Childhood Team
What better source than the player himself? Right-handed pitcher Brooks Kriske announced on social media that he has signed with his childhood team Chicago Cubs.
Kriske, 30, was a sixth-round draft pick by the New York Yankees out of USC back in 2016. What a year for him, considering he grew up a big Cubs fan. The pitcher added a picture of himself when he was a little kid at Wrigley Field to go along with his announcement.
Excited to sign with my childhood team! Let’s go @Cubs pic.twitter.com/fupWW5aFYR
— Brooks Kriske (@brooks_kriske) November 27, 2024
The right-hander has been with a handful of MLB teams throughout his pro career and Kriske has also taken his talents to Japan, pitching for two different clubs in the NPB in 2022 and 2023. As far as the pitcher's MLB career, Kriske hasn't gotten much run at any stop, compiling a total of 21.1 big league innings.
In 2024, Kriske spent most of the season pitching for the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A affiliate in Louisville. He ended the year in the Baltimore Orioles system, appearing in eight games at Triple-A. Overall in 2024, Kriske posted a 3.39 ERA in 50 outings, striking out an impressive 81 batters in 58.1 innings and holding hitters to a .164 batting average.
Kriske broke into the majors during the 2020 season with the Yankees, making four appearances in the 60-game season. He was back down in Triple-A for the majority of the 2021 season, getting two call ups during the summer, but only pitched in eight games. Kriske was eventually claimed off waivers by the Orioles in September and made four appearances for Baltimore in the final few weeks of the season.
Following the 2021 season, Kriske signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan and had a good year, recording a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings of work. He returned to the states in 2023 with the Kansas City Royals, but in July he asked for his release so that he could return to Japan, where he signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions. Kriske once again flourished in the NPB, posting a 1.93 ERA in 14 appearances.
So yeah, maybe on the surface this looks like a yawn of a move, but who knows? Sure, Kriske hasn't had much success at the MLB level, but there's something there. A 34% strikeout rate at Triple-A in 2024 is definitely something that should catch your eye.
Brooks Kriske struck out the side in the 8th inning of the @LouisvilleBats win tonight. #Reds
— OnBaseMachine (@RedsFan_Brandon) May 11, 2024
Hitters whiffed on all four swings against his splitter as evidenced below. 1 BB/12 over his last 6.1 IP.
Contain yourself @RedsInFour. pic.twitter.com/3ZveIQybPs
Obviously there are things Kriske has to figure out. Walks have been a problem for him everywhere he's pitched and we've seen how wild he can truly get during his time with the Yankees.
Brooks Kriske's historical night!
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 23, 2021
His four wild pitches in one inning ties an MLB record set five times previously. The last time was 2008. It's the first time in MLB history a pitcher has thrown four or more wild pitches in the ninth inning or later pic.twitter.com/0VcNqzITkN
But hey, how often do athletes get to sign with their childhood teams? This could end up being a nice story to root for. Imagine pitching at Wrigley Field for the Cubs when you grew up cheering for them? That would be pretty damn cool if Kriske accomplished that.
Let's see what the Cubs pitching lab can do with their newest arm.
