The Kansas City Royals have released relief pitcher Brooks Kriske, the team announced Friday morning. The move will allow Kriske to continue pursuing his career in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Kriske appeared in four games for the Royals this season, initially getting called up from Triple-A Omaha on June 18. In 6.2 innings of work, Kriske put up six strikeouts, four walks, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.050 WHIP. The right-hander got sent back down on July 1.
In the minors, Kriske was 0-4 with a 5.52 ERA, 1.568 WHIP, five saves and 15.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kriske made his major league debut with the New York Yankees in 2020, four years after they took him in the sixth round of the MLB Draft. He had several stints on New York's major league roster the following season, but he was eventually designated for assignment and scooped up by the Baltimore Orioles.
Across those two seasons, Kriske was 2-1 with a 14.40 ERA, 19 strikeouts, 13 walks and a 2.200 WHIP in 15.0 innings.
Kriske went overseas to Japan in December 2021, playing the 2022 season with the Yokohama Bay Stars. Kriske went 1-2 with a 3.25 ERA, 1.278 WHIP and three saves in 32 NPB outings.
The Royals temporarily lured Kriske back to the United States with a minor league deal for his age 29 season, but it appears he would rather try his luck in NPB than Triple-A at this point.
Kansas City has the third-worst bullpen ERA in baseball this season at 5.19, as well as the third-worst bullpen WHIP at 1.490. The Royals are currently 28-70, which is good for last place in the AL Central and the second-worst overall record in MLB.
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