Author Topic: Follow the Prospects: Robert Cranz, RHP (Read 518 times)

imref · « **on:** July 02, 2025, 09:25:49 am »

Born: 5/28/2003 in Keller, TX
Draft: 2024, Washington Nationals, Round: 7, Overall Pick: 200
College: Oklahoma State

https://www.milb.com/player/robert-cranz-801128

Promoted to A+ Wilmington on July 1, 2025 after posting a 2.05 ERA / 0.95 WHIP at Fredricksburg in 25 games / 30.2 IP. 41Ks, 16BBs. BAA of .127

BBA had him as our #24 prospect going into the season. Keith Law also had him ranked as our #20 prospect.

Todd Boss' write-up after we drafted him:

Quote

Another round, another arm, which is good to see. And we return to fertile scouting ground for this team: Oklahoma colleges. Cranz worked out of Oklahoma State’s bullpen this year with stellar results: 1.63 ERA, 0.77 whip, a .153 BAA. Great looking stats. Prior to OK State, he pitched two years at Wichita State. Not much out there on him. He came out of Keller HS in the Houston area, a baseball factory.

He noted that Cranz has four solid pitches and projects as a starter, but Oklahoma had two top starters in front of him so he pitched in relief. He's been a reliever so far for the Nats but they could decide to make him a starter at some point.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2025, 09:35:36 am »

9 saves and 2 holds in 25 appearances this year. IIRC he closed in the playoffs last year for f-burg.

Has not started a game for the f-Nats

imref · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2025, 09:36:39 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on July 02, 2025, 09:35:36 am

9 saves and 2 holds in 25 appearances this year. IIRC he closed in the playoffs last year for f-burg

seems Callis has missed out on him. I added some additional info above.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2025, 09:38:48 am »

Quote from: imref on July 02, 2025, 09:36:39 am

seems Callis has missed out on him. I added some additional info above.

A reliever, so there's a limit on how high some will put him on prospect lists.

imref · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2025, 09:45:45 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on July 02, 2025, 09:38:48 am

A reliever, so there's a limit on how high some will put him on prospect lists.

Boss can't understand why he hasn't been a starter with four + pitches

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2025, 10:16:38 am »

the walk rate makes him look like a reliever. 4.70/9. His 34.7 K% works as a reliever, and his 21.2 K%-BB% is very good, but I wonder if he's got some of Ian's bugaboo of pitch inefficiency. Great to get something out of a 7th rounder.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2025, 10:32:16 am »

just looking at the game log and the splits on B-R, looks like he may have started the year as the closer, had nothing special results with a lot of BBs (16 in 10.2 IP). After that, they pulled him back and he didn't finish games in May but had some extremely good results that month (3 BB in 11 IP, 0.69 Opponents Batting Average, .260 OPS against), then moved back to close in June with good results. In June, he managed 5 BB, 11K in 11 IP. WHIP < 1 for the second straight month.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cranz-000rob&type=pgl&year=2025

imref · « **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2025, 12:14:12 am »

perfect inning with a K tonight to earn his 2nd A+ save

nobleisthyname · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2025, 04:56:46 pm »

Age: 22
Team rank: Unranked
Current level: A+

July recap

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

0-1

|

5.0

|

5

|

2

|

1.80

|

5.04

|

4

|

1

|

23.5%

|

5.9%

|

0.40

Year-to-date (2 levels)

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

1-3

|

35.2

|

30

|

11

|

2.02

|

3.52

|

45

|

17

|

33.3%

|

12.6%

|

0.87

GataNats · « **Reply #9 on:** August 15, 2025, 10:06:56 pm »

Where has he been lately. Was dominant all year and hasn’t pitched in a month

nobleisthyname · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2025, 06:20:03 pm »

On 60-Day IL, no idea why.

nobleisthyname · « **Reply #11 on:** October 11, 2025, 12:12:01 pm »

Age: 22
Team rank: Unranked
Current level: A+ (on 60-Day IL)

Season recap (2 levels)

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

1-3

|

35.2

|

30

|

11

|

2.02

|

3.55

|

45

|

17

|

33.3%

|

12.6%

|

0.87

GataNats · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2026, 09:51:58 pm »

He’s killing it Wilmington. Get him up to Harrisburg

imref · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2026, 11:50:53 am »

Quote from: GataNats on May 10, 2026, 09:51:58 pm

He’s killing it Wilmington. Get him up to Harrisburg

Your wish is the Nats' command. Promoted to Harrisburg this morning.

Squab · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2026, 11:57:20 am »

16 IP 12 BB 27 SO is a wild line

blue911 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2026, 12:33:40 pm »

Quote from: Squab on May 11, 2026, 11:57:20 am

16 IP 12 BB 27 SO is a wild line

So is giving up only 22 hits in over 57 innings.

imref · « **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2026, 01:29:39 pm »

Made his Harrisburg debut yesterday: 1.0, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K

GataNats · « **Reply #17 on:** May 20, 2026, 10:02:13 pm »

Guy is killing it in AA. Could be an early call up guy. Unhittable right now

GataNats · « **Reply #18 on:** May 25, 2026, 01:12:10 am »

DOMINANT. Get him up here

Section214 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 26, 2026, 10:40:46 am »

No reason not to push this guy up quickly. Dominant Junior year at Oklahoma State, dominant at all three levels over his two years in the minors. We should get a look at him this summer in DC.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #20 on:** May 26, 2026, 10:58:28 am »

Quote from: Section214 on May 26, 2026, 10:40:46 am

No reason not to push this guy up quickly. Dominant Junior year at Oklahoma State, dominant at all three levels over his two years in the minors. We should get a look at him this summer in DC.

5 walks a game this season (A+ and AA) is the reason he's in AA. They also have until 12/27 to add him to the 40 man. IOW, 2 seasons. He's only been in AA for 2 weeks and thrown 7.2 innings / 5 appearances. Let's give him at least until 7/1 in Harrisburg and also have him throw more frequently than once every 3 days if he's going to be a bullpen piece. Let's also see how he progresses and how the MLB team is doing before moving him up either to AAA or the Nats. More than likely, he's on a track for a call up in 2027 unless we are in a push for the WC and we see him as the next K-Rod.

BTW - I'm a huge fan of K%-BB% and recognize he's running 31% in AA. His BB% is microscopic at Harrisburg (3.4%). I just want to see him maintain 8 BB% or less for a while in the Eastern League before I believe it.

Slateman · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2026, 06:26:25 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on May 26, 2026, 10:58:28 am

5 walks a game this season (A+ and AA) is the reason he's in AA. They also have until 12/27 to add him to the 40 man. IOW, 2 seasons. He's only been in AA for 2 weeks and thrown 7.2 innings / 5 appearances. Let's give him at least until 7/1 in Harrisburg and also have him throw more frequently than once every 3 days if he's going to be a bullpen piece. Let's also see how he progresses and how the MLB team is doing before moving him up either to AAA or the Nats. More than likely, he's on a track for a call up in 2027 unless we are in a push for the WC and we see him as the next K-Rod.

BTW - I'm a huge fan of K%-BB% and recognize he's running 31% in AA. His BB% is microscopic at Harrisburg (3.4%). I just want to see him maintain 8 BB% or less for a while in the Eastern League before I believe it.

Yep. Its still May. He can wait until June to get bumped to Triple A. But making the MLB roster should be doable at his current performance level