Former Yankees pitcher signs with the Reds as a potential bounce-back option

One former player for the New York Yankees has formally moved into a new residence.

According to the team, former Yankees pitcher Brooks Kriske spent a portion of the 2023 season with the Kansas City Royals before formally signing a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. “The Reds today signed (right-handed pitcher) Brooks Kriske to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League camp.”

After rising through the Yankees’ farm system, Kriske was chosen in the sixth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft. In 2020, he finally made his major league debut with the Yankees, pitching three and a half innings while giving up six earned runs in his four outings.

After being assigned for assignment, the right-hander played in 12 games for the Yankees in 2021 before joining the Baltimore Orioles. After being eventually freed, Kriske signed a contract in 2022 with the Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Yokohama DeNA Baystars. Prior to the 2023 season, he joined with the Royals and played four games before joining the NPB’s Saitama Seibu Lions.

Kriske will now try to climb back up to the Reds’ major league roster. He is 29 years old and does have some potential. Kriske has made 32 appearances with a 2.31 ERA in two seasons with the NPB. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him earn another opportunity to play in the major leagues in 2024 if he can perform at that caliber in the Reds’ farm system.