Follow the Prospects: Robert Cranz, RHP

[imref]

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:

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[nobleisthyname]

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]

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

[nobleisthyname]

On 60-Day IL, no idea why.

[nobleisthyname]

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