Brooks Kriske Agrees to Deal with Cubs: A Journey of Resilience

Right-handed pitcher Brooks Kriske has agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs, as announced by the 30-year-old on his Instagram and X accounts. While the specific terms of the deal have not been disclosed, it is expected to be a minor league contract. The Cubs have yet to confirm the move officially.

Early Career and Comeback
Growing up as a Cubs fan, Kriske was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2016. Despite not being a top prospect, he made an impressive comeback from an early-career Tommy John surgery and rapidly advanced through the minor leagues. By August 2018, Kriske was still pitching at Low-A after losing significant development time due to his injury. Remarkably, by July 2020, he was pitching for the Yankees' big league team. His progress earned him a spot on the Yankees' prospect lists heading into the 2021 season, ranking No. 34 by FanGraphs and No. 28 by Baseball America.

Major League Struggles
However, Kriske faced significant challenges in the majors. Over parts of two seasons with the Yankees, he posted a 15.09 ERA, allowing 20 runs (19 earned) in 11 1/3 innings. He gave up six home runs, walked more than 20% of the batters he faced, and threw seven wild pitches, four of which occurred in a single inning. After a particularly poor outing in September 2021, Kriske was optioned to Triple-A and later designated for assignment.

Brief Stint with the Orioles
Intrigued by his brief success against them in 2020, the Orioles claimed Kriske off waivers. While he didn't walk any batters, he struggled in his four appearances, allowing five runs on two homers in 3 1/3 innings. By the end of the 2021 season, Kriske had a career 14.40 ERA, 5.11 SIERA, and -0.8 FanGraphs WAR.

Success in Japan and Return to MLB
Following his release by the Orioles, Kriske signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He enjoyed a relatively successful season in Japan, posting a 2.57 ERA with 11.1 K/9 over 21 innings. This performance earned him a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals in December 2022.

Back in affiliated ball, Kriske struggled at Triple-A Omaha, recording a 5.52 ERA and 4.29 FIP over 29 1/3 innings. His 4.05 ERA over 6 2/3 MLB innings showed slight improvement, but a 16% walk rate and 5.30 SIERA indicated ongoing struggles. Midway through the 2023 season, Kriske returned to Japan, joining the Saitama Seibu Lions.

New Opportunity with the Cubs
​Now, Kriske has a new opportunity with the Cubs, hoping to leverage his experiences and overcome past challenges. The minor league deal presents a chance for Kriske to re-establish himself and potentially earn a spot on the major league roster.