Pirates' Max Kranick: Protected from Rule 5 draft

Kranick's contract was selected by the Pirates on Friday.

A 23-year-old righty, Kranick made 20 starts at High-A in 2019, logging a 3.79 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 78:30 K:BB in 109.1 innings. He doesn't throw very hard, so he wouldn't be a great candidate to shift to relief. Kranick could open the year at Double-A or Triple-A.