Matt Krook

Position: LHRP
Level: Double-A
Affiliate: Montgomery Biscuits
League: Southern League
Born: 10/21/1994 (Age: 29)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 225
B/T: Left / Left
Acquired: 4th Rd., 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft (SFG); Traded to TBR 12/20/2017.

Prospect Spotlight

Krook came to the Rays in the trade that sent Evan Longoria to San Francisco this off-season. After being a high pick (35th overall) by Miami coming out of high school, he pitched sparingly at the University of Oregon before signing with the Giants in 2015 in the 5th round. He has wound up a reliever in pro ball, and I saw him make two appearances in the same series this July for Montgomery.

He throws from a wide three-quarters slot, staying closed to create tough angle and deception. He sits at 91-to-92 mph, average lefty velo, but he gets swings through it nonetheless. His fastball life grades as 70, a turbo sinker that dives hard. He doesn’t have pinpoint command because of how much natural movement he gets on the ball, but he can hit spots enough to pitch with his stuff. Control is more a concern, as Krook will yank the pitch gloveside and fall behind, then need to elevate the FB where hitters can barrel it. I see his fastball as a future 60-grade pitch based on command projection; as he gets more accustomed to the pen and working with his maximum fastball life, I think he will learn to be a bit finer within the zone. He throws a slider (86-to-88 mph) and curve (77-to-79 mph), but I think he will back off the slider and focus more on being a true fastball/curveball ‘pen arm at the end of the day. His hook has average shape and action, but he can’t land it for many strikes right now. I think the breaking ball is at least a fringe-average future pitch as he works with only one secondary pitch.

Despite average velocity and an iffy second pitch, the extreme movement on Krook’s fastball gives him a middle relief ceiling. The heater from the left side will get him there, but I can’t see enough weapons to pitch in leverage situations. The Rays got a solid FV 45 type as a secondary piece in this trade.