Pirates pitcher Max Kranick continues Tommy John rehab, will pitch to live hitters soon

Baseball players who have the misfortune of requiring Tommy John surgery unavoidably find themselves staring down a long tunnel of recovery.

For pitchers, undergoing the surgery to their throwing arm usually entails being sidelined between one and two years, over which time they navigate through an extensive rehabilitation program as the ulnar collateral ligament heals.

Late last spring, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Max Kranick experienced tightness in his right forearm, which, ultimately warranted Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow.

With his procedure completed June 3, 2022, Kranick is just over a year into the recovery process. He has been posted at the Pirate City complex in Bradenton, Fla., working with club medical and rehab officials.

Kranick, 25, has leaned on those around him to stay even-keeled throughout the process of getting back to baseball activities.

“I have a great support system — family, friends, my fiancee lives with me for 95% of the time, I’d say — so, without them, I think I’d definitely go crazy,” Kranick said. “I’ve had a bunch of visitors down in Florida.

“My parents were just there last weekend. My friends have been down there a bunch. My fiancee’s family has been there. So I think without them, I definitely would go crazy.”

An 11th-round selection by Pittsburgh in the 2016 MLB Draft, Kranick made his MLB debut in 2021, starting nine games for the Pirates that season and going 2-3 with a 6.28 ERA.

Around the time of his injury, Kranick had logged a pair of relief appearances with the Pirates.

At the start of May, when they were in Tampa Bay to play a series against the Rays, the Pirates made a point of inviting Kranick up to conduct his rehab with the team for a few days.

“I think it’s important for any of our guys to feel part of the club,” manager Derek Shelton said. “We were able to do it because we were in Tampa and Bradenton being so close, but any time we can get those guys that are away from the club for an extended period of time, just to be around, it’s a brotherhood.

“You miss it when you’re not here, and definitely — being externally or being at Pirate City — you can get a little bit lonely and not feel like you’re part of the club.”

Fast forward to this past weekend, and the Pirates had something similar in mind, with Kranick joining the club again Friday.

On Saturday, Kranick threw a bullpen session at PNC Park, which will lead him into the next chapter of his recovery process: facing hitters during a live batting practice.

“Being around the guys, feeling like you’re part of it again is really nice and refreshing for me,” he said. “Now I’m at the end of my bullpen buildup, so I think this timed out really well. I’m grateful to come up, and it’s a good little mental reset.”

Kranick is scheduled to begin pitching to hitters June 23, a date he is looking forward to.

From there, over the course of several weeks, Kranick will throw a limited number of pitches to hitters, first with all fastballs, then fastballs and changeups until, eventually, he will work in his whole repertoire, which includes a curveball and slider.

While it continues to be a long process, Kranick has aimed to take things one day at a time.

“You just go day by day and expect some days are going to be good, some days are going to be bad, but staying in the middle is just part of it,” Kranick said.

As of now, there have been no setbacks or alterations to Kranick’s timetable for a full recovery.

Some time in August, he is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment within the Pirates’ farm system.

“He’s in good spirits,” Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said. “He’s working diligently through his progression. … We’re encouraged by his progress.”