Matt Krook Bio
Matthew Edward Krook, known professionally as Matt Krook, is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays in the Athletics organization of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on October 21, 1994, in Hillsborough, California, Krook has built his career as a left-handed pitcher who has moved between starting and relief roles across several organizations. He has previously appeared in MLB for the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles, and he has spent additional time in the minor league systems of the San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cleveland Guardians.
Krook attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco before continuing his baseball career at the University of Oregon. He was selected twice in the MLB draft, first by the Miami Marlins in 2013 and later by the San Francisco Giants in 2016, and he has worked his way through the minor leagues to reach the major leagues as a relief pitcher.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Edward Krook was born on October 21, 1994, in Hillsborough, California. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory, where he played for the school baseball team. In his senior year at St. Ignatius, Krook posted a 2–1 win–loss record with a 1.65 earned run average, drawing national attention as one of the top high school pitchers eligible for the 2013 MLB draft.
His performance that season earned him recognition as a First Team All-American and All-Region selection by Perfect Game, along with All-State honors from MaxPreps. The Miami Marlins selected him with the 35th overall pick in the competitive balance round of the 2013 MLB draft. Although the two sides had agreed on a contract, the Marlins withdrew their offer after Krook failed a physical examination due to an issue with his left shoulder, and he declined a reduced signing bonus.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following the breakdown of his agreement with the Marlins, Krook enrolled at the University of Oregon to play college baseball for the Oregon Ducks. As a freshman, he was named a Louisville Slugger First-Team Freshman All-American after posting a 2–1 record and a 1.79 ERA with 60 strikeouts. Among his highlights were an 11-strikeout performance against Loyola Marymount and a quality start against Hawaii in which he allowed only five hits across seven innings.
Krook’s freshman season ended after he felt arm stiffness during a game against Washington State. He elected to undergo Tommy John surgery on April 22, performed by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. He did not pitch during his sophomore year at Oregon and played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League in 2015, where he pitched to an 0–1 record with a 6.35 ERA in six starts.
Matt Krook Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
The San Francisco Giants selected Krook in the fourth round, with the 125th overall pick, of the 2016 MLB draft. After signing with the Giants, he was assigned to the rookie-level Arizona League Giants and later promoted to the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Across both levels in 2016, he posted a combined 1–4 record with a 5.53 ERA in 13 games, including 11 starts. He spent the 2017 season with the High-A San Jose Giants, where he went 4–9 with a 5.12 ERA in 25 games, including 17 starts.
On December 20, 2017, the Giants traded Krook, along with Christian Arroyo, Denard Span, and Stephen Woods Jr., to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Evan Longoria and cash considerations. He spent the 2018 season with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, going 4–2 with a 4.26 ERA in 37 games, including six starts, and returned to Montgomery in 2019. Across 32 appearances and 18 starts for the Biscuits that season, he registered a 2–3 record and a 4.50 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 50 innings pitched. He did not appear in a game in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York Yankees Era (2021–2023)
On December 10, 2020, the New York Yankees selected Krook from the Rays in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He began the 2021 season with the Double-A Somerset Patriots and was promoted to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders during the year. In 2022, he started for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Opening Day and went on to post a 10–7 record with a 4.09 ERA. His 155 strikeouts that season set a new franchise record for the RailRiders, surpassing a mark previously held by Carlton Loewer since 1997.
On November 10, 2022, the Yankees added Krook to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He transitioned into a relief pitcher in 2023 and began the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, registering a 1.04 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 17 and one-third innings in 12 games. On May 27, 2023, the Yankees promoted him to the major leagues for the first time, and he made his MLB debut on June 16 at Fenway Park. In four appearances for the Yankees, he pitched to a 24.75 ERA with three strikeouts across four innings before being designated for assignment on February 13, 2024.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024)
On February 18, 2024, the Yankees traded Krook to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations. He was optioned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the season and was recalled by the Orioles on June 28 when Corbin Burnes was placed on the paternity list. He returned to the Tides after surrendering a three-run homer to Wyatt Langford in an 11–2 loss to the Texas Rangers on June 30.
The Orioles designated Krook for assignment on July 30, 2024. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Norfolk on August 2 before electing free agency on November 4, 2024.
Athletics Era (2024–Present)
On November 15, 2024, Krook signed a minor league contract with the Athletics and was assigned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. He made 12 appearances for the Aviators, posting a 3–1 record and a 3.21 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 14 innings. On May 16, 2025, the Athletics selected his contract, adding him to the active roster, where he recorded a 5.40 ERA with three strikeouts across three and two-thirds innings in three appearances before being designated for assignment on May 27.
On May 29, 2025, Krook was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians. He made 30 appearances for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, going 2–0 with a 3.18 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 34 innings. On November 6, he was removed from the 40-man roster, sent outright to Columbus, and elected free agency after rejecting the assignment. On November 22, 2025, Krook signed a new minor league contract with the Athletics, and he began the 2026 season with the Las Vegas Aviators before having his contract selected on June 21, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Krook is a left-handed pitcher who has built his professional value on a strong strikeout rate and the ability to work multiple innings out of the bullpen. His transition from a starting role to a relief role with the Yankees organization in 2023 highlighted his ability to adapt, and his 155-strikeout season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022 demonstrated the swing-and-miss profile that has carried through his major league appearances.
Notable Events and Milestones
Krook’s most notable milestones include being selected in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft by the Miami Marlins and again in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants, along with making his MLB debut on June 16, 2023, at Fenway Park. His 155 strikeouts for the RailRiders in 2022 stand as a franchise record.
Matt Krook Career Wins
Matt Krook has accumulated his professional win totals primarily in the minor leagues, where he has spent the majority of his career since being drafted in 2016. His major league appearances have been limited to relief outings with the New York Yankees, and he has continued to add to his record in the Athletics organization.
Minor League Highlights
Among his most notable minor league seasons, Krook went 10–7 with a 4.09 ERA and 155 strikeouts for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2022, setting a franchise record for strikeouts in a season. He also posted a 4–2 record with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits in 2018 and a 2–3 mark with the same club in 2019. In more recent seasons, he has gone 3–1 with the Las Vegas Aviators and 2–0 with the Columbus Clippers.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Krook posted a 4–9 record with the High-A San Jose Giants in 2017 and a 1–4 combined record across the Arizona League Giants and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in 2016. He was named a Louisville Slugger First-Team Freshman All-American at the University of Oregon in 2014.
Matt Krook Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Matt Krook’s parents and family background have not been publicly verified through available sources. Information regarding his upbringing and family support during his baseball career is limited.
Personal Life
Public information about Matt Krook’s spouse, children, and personal relationships has not been confirmed through verified sources. He continues to be based in the United States while playing professional baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Matt Krook’s 2025 season was marked by movement between three organizations as he sought to establish himself in the major leagues. After signing a minor league deal with the Athletics, he earned a brief promotion to the active roster in mid-May, where he appeared in three games before being designated for assignment. He was quickly claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians, and he spent the remainder of the season at the Triple-A level with the Columbus Clippers, posting a 2–0 record with a 3.18 ERA and 40 strikeouts across 30 appearances and 34 innings.
Although his major league opportunities during the 2025 season were limited, Krook’s strikeout numbers and overall performance in Triple-A suggested he remained a viable relief option. Following the end of the minor league season, the Guardians removed him from the 40-man roster in November, and he rejected an outright assignment in order to explore free agency. His path back to the Athletics organization later that month set the stage for continued development into the 2026 season.
Heading into 2026, Krook rejoined the Las Vegas Aviators on a minor league contract and continued to log strong strikeout totals in the early going. On June 21, 2026, the Athletics selected his contract and added him back to their active roster, marking his return to the major leagues and giving him another opportunity to contribute at the top level of professional baseball.