The New York Mets just took another major hit—this time to a bullpen already patched together with duct tape and hope.
Right-hander Max Kranick, a quietly effective multi-inning option, is now out for the foreseeable future after a devastating diagnosis.
He’ll undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his 2025 season and likely wiping out much of 2026, too, if not all of it.
News: Max Kranick will undergo Tommy John surgery.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 18, 2025
A Promising Start That Earned Him a Role
Kranick had impressed early with a revamped pitch mix and a fearless approach that earned him a role in spring training.
He looked like one of those quiet spring success stories—the kind who shows up sharp and forces a manager’s hand.
And force it he did. Kranick posted a 3.65 ERA across 37 innings, carving out a niche as a reliable long reliever.
That ERA only tells part of the story. Kranick was exceptionally efficient—throwing strikes and avoiding costly mistakes.
The Value Was in the Details
He issued just five walks all season, which is practically unheard of in today’s bullpen landscape full of wild flamethrowers.
Though he struck out just 25 batters, Kranick minimized damage and controlled innings by pounding the strike zone relentlessly.
There was an old-school feel to his approach—more pitchability than power, more finesse than flash—but undeniably effective.
From Soreness to Surgery
Unfortunately, elbow discomfort that started in June turned out to be far more than routine soreness, despite early optimism.
Kranick recently visited renowned specialist Dr. Keith Meister, and the results confirmed what pitchers dread most.
Tommy John surgery is on deck, as first reported by Mets insider Anthony DiComo, and it’s a brutal blow to the staff’s depth.
A Crucial Cog in the Mets’ Bullpen
Kranick was one of the few arms who could stretch outings, reset the bullpen, or bridge to the late-inning guys quietly.
He wasn’t a headline name, but he was the kind of piece that made a chaotic season just a bit more manageable.
Now, he joins a long and growing list of Mets pitchers lost to injury—Dedniel Núñez, A.J. Minter, Danny Young, Drew Smith, and others.
At this point, the Mets’ bullpen feels like a dam with too many leaks and not enough hands to plug them all.
Underrated Efficiency and Development
Even as an “up-and-down” arm shuttling between Syracuse and Queens, Kranick filled in gaps the way duct tape holds together a race car.
His ability to limit walks made him a rare commodity: a pitcher who let the defense work, didn’t panic, and didn’t implode.
It’s no surprise his success stemmed from the Mets’ now-renowned pitching lab, which has churned out several mid-tier gems.
Kranick’s development was a testament to both the organization’s vision and the pitcher’s own willingness to adjust and learn.
What Comes Next for Kranick and the Mets
The surgery now halts that progress, casting uncertainty over a career that was just starting to stabilize at the major league level.
He’ll be 28 next season, and returning late-2026 would be an optimistic projection given the intensity of Tommy John rehab.
For the Mets, the timing couldn’t be worse. They’ve lost both foundational pieces and depth arms in the span of a few months.
Kranick was never meant to be a star—but that’s not what makes his absence sting. It’s the void he leaves behind in structure and stability.
Every team needs a guy like Max Kranick: reliable, consistent, invisible until he’s not—and now he’s gone for a long while.
READ MORE: Mets could be eyeing one of the best relievers in baseball this season
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