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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 04: Kyle Crick #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on September 4, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

No. 4 San Francisco Giants Loss: RP Kyle Crick

2019 Stats: 12 G, 4 HLD, 3.27 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9, 8.5 K/9, .114 BAA
2019 WAR: 0.3

Few pitching prospects in recent San Francisco Giants memory have had as much hype as Kyle Crick.

The No. 49 pick in the 2011 draft appeared to be on the fast track with dominant showings at Single-A in 2012 and High-A in 2013.

However, his walk rate caught up with him in the upper levels of the minors, and his lack of command eventually stalled his development.

After posting a 4.17 ERA and a 6.7 BB/9 walk rate in three straight seasons at Double-A, he was finally moved to the bullpen in 2017. He made his MLB debut that year with a 3.06 ERA and a 28-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32.1 innings over 30 appearances.

The Pittsburgh Pirates saw enough potential in his MLB debut to ask for him as part of the package of players that went the other way in the deal that brought Andrew McCutchen to the Giants prior to last season.

The 26-year-old ended up emerging as a key cog in the Pirates bullpen last year, posting a 2.39 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 60.1 innings with two saves and 17 holds in 64 appearances.

It’s been more of the same this year, and with team control through 2023, he has fast become one of the most valuable assets on the Pittsburgh roster.