Rick Kranitz

Richard Alan Kranitz

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.
• School Yavapai Community College, Oklahoma State University
• High School Apollo High School (Glendale)

• Born September 15, 1958 in San Rafael, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Rick Kranitz was selected in the 1979 amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched five years in the Brewers' chain, and two years in the Chicago Cubs' chain.

Kranitz started coaching in the Cubs' organization in 1984. He was the pitching coach for the Pikeville Cubs (1984), Winston-Salem Spirits (1985-1986), Wytheville Cubs (1987), Peoria Chiefs (1988-1989), Charlotte Knights (1990-1991), Iowa Cubs (1992), and Orlando Cubs (1993). The Cubs promoted hime to minor league pitching coordinator in 1994 and he stayed in that role in 1995. Kranitz received another promotion to the major league coaching staff where he served as an assistant pitching coach from 1996-1998. In 1999 he dropped down one level as pitching coach at AAA Iowa for a second time. Kranitz returned to Chicago in 2000 as a major league assistant pitching coordinator, a role he continued in 2001. After spending 2002 on the Cubs big league staff as a bullpen coach, he managed the Daytona Cubs in 2003 and was pitching coach at Iowa for the third time in 2004-2005. This proved to be his final stop in the minor leagues as he served in a series of major league coaching positions in the years ahead. In total, Kranitz spent 22 years in the Cubs organization coaching at both the major and minor league levels.

Kranitz was the Florida Marlins pitching coach from 2006 to 2007. In 2006 he was named the major league Coach of the Year by Baseball America after his Marlins staff became the first in major league history to have four rookies with at least 10 wins each: Josh Johnson (12-7), Scott Olsen (12-10), Ricky Nolasco (11-11), and Anibal Sanchez (10-3). The Marlins wanted Kranitz to return in 2008, but he indicated that he wanted to explore other options and resigned with six games left in the 2007 season.

Kranitz was not out of work long as the Baltimore Orioles hired him on October 17, 2007 to replace fired pitching coach Leo Mazzone. Kranitz occupied the Orioles pitching coach position through 2010. In 2011, Kranitz became the Brewers' pitching coach, staying until the end of the 2015 season. In 2016, he moved to the Philadelphia Phillies as bullpen coach. In 2017, his title became assistant pitching coach. Kranitz was promoted to pitching coach under new manager Gabe Kapler in 2018, but left after the season.

The Atlanta Braves hired Kranitz in 2019 to coach their pitchers. The pitching staff performed well under his leadership and Kranitz remained the Braves pitching coach through 2024.

Related Sites

• Orioles name Rick Kranitz as pitching coach

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
2003	Daytona Cubs	Florida State League	66-71	9th	Chicago Cubs