Brooks Kriske

Brooks Joseph Kriske (born February 3, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and Saitama Seibu Lions.

Amateur career
Kriske played all four years of varsity baseball at Palm Desert High School in Palm Desert, California. He helped his team to three consecutive California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Finals from 2010–2012, winning the CIF state championships in 2010 and 2012. Kriske pitched a complete-game shutout in the final in 2012. He was a two-time All State selection.

Kriske attended the University of Southern California (USC) and played college baseball for the USC Trojans. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB draft.

New York Yankees
Kriske began his professional career in 2016 with the Staten Island Yankees. He underwent Tommy John surgery that year, and subsequently missed the 2017 season. He was an all-star in the Florida State League pitching for the Tampa Tarpons before being promoted to Double-A with the Trenton Thunder. The Yankees added him to their 40-man roster after the 2019 season, before being optioned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of Triple-A in March 2020.

Kriske was added to the Yankees' active roster on July 26, 2020. He made his major league debut on July 29 against the Baltimore Orioles, striking out two batters and walking one in an inning of relief. For the shortened 2020 season, Kriske appeared in four games without registering a decision, while pitching to a 14.73 earned run average (ERA) while striking out eight batters in $3 2/3$ innings.

Kriske began the 2021 season in Triple-A with the RailRiders. He was recalled by the Yankees twice in June and once in July. On July 21, Kriske recorded his first major league win, throwing a scoreless 10th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies, as the Yankees scored in the bottom half of the inning to win. The next day, Kriske was again used in extra innings, this time in a save situation against the Boston Red Sox. However, he blew the save and took the loss, tying the MLB regular-season record by throwing four wild pitches in the inning. He was optioned to Triple-A after the game. On September 14, the Yankees designated Kriske for assignment.

Baltimore Orioles
Kriske was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles two days later on September 16 and sent to the Norfolk Tides. After pitching a scoreless inning in his only Tides appearance, he was promoted to the Orioles on September 19. He made his Orioles debut in a 4–3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 22. The only batter he faced was Andrew McCutchen whose foul out to the catcher stranded two base runners to end the seventh inning. After appearing in four games with a 12.27 ERA in $3 2/3$ innings, Kriske requested, and was granted his release to pursue an international opportunity on November 30.

Yokohama DeNA BayStars
On December 8, 2021, Kriske signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Kansas City Royals
On December 15, 2022, Kriske signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin the 2023 season, posting a 6.00 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 5 saves in 27.0 innings pitched. On June 18, 2023, Kriske had his contract selected to the major league roster. In 4 games for the Royals, he recorded a 4.05 ERA with 6 strikeouts in $6 2⁄3$ innings pitched. On July 21, Kriske requested and was granted his released by the Royals to continue his career in Japan.

Saitama Seibu Lions
On July 26, 2023, Kriske signed a $320,000 contract with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He became a free agent after the 2023 season.

Cincinnati Reds
On December 21, 2023, Kriske signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. On June 17, 2024, the Reds added Kriske to their 40–man roster to prevent him from exercising the opt–out clause in his contract.

Personal life
Kriske is named after Brooks Robinson.