Mets’ Max Kranick Shines with Emotional Opening Day Moments

NEW YORK — Max Kranick, the New York Mets reliever, expressed excitement about his journey this season, highlighting memorable moments since making the MLB roster. Kranick, who made the Mets’ Opening Day lineup in Houston after a stellar spring training, reflected on the support he received from family and childhood idol David Wright.

Kranick, 27, pitched his first game for the Mets on March 29, throwing a scoreless 2/3 inning. He made an even bigger impact during the Mets’ home opener, pitching two innings in front of 11 family members, including his father. “When I made the Opening Day roster in Houston, actually, David Wright texted me, which was really, really cool,” Kranick told reporters. “I was sitting with Hayden Sanger on the bus and I just showed him my phone, like, ‘Is this real?’”

Wright, a Mets legend, reached out to Kranick in what the reliever called his “coolest moment so far.” Growing up in Scranton as a deep Mets fan, Kranick shared that his father has attended Citi Field’s home openers for several years, although he jokingly struggled to recall the exact number of seasons.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2023 season, Kranick adapted well in 2024. He thrived in Triple-A, transitioning from starter to reliever and posting a 3.46 ERA across 52 innings. Early in this MLB season, he has emerged as a reliable option, leading the Mets’ bullpen by pitching a team-high 5 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. “Kranick continues to do a hell of a job,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said on Friday.