Alex Kranzler Brings An SEC Mentality to Red Sox Organization [Exclusive]

“I’m just an ultra-competitor. Not going to try and blow up a radar gun, but I do have pretty good velocity. Kind of like an old-school pitcher, looking for ways to get people out.”

Alex Kranzler is the latest pitcher to be drafted by Craig Breslow, having been taken in the 17th round of the 2026 MLB Draft. A 21-year-old right-hander out of Vanderbilt, Kranzler has a history of being a reliable arm out of the bullpen. Despite sporting a 6.18 ERA his junior season with Vanderbilt, Kranzler stepped up when it mattered most for his team.

During the first round of the SEC Baseball Tournament, Kranzler entered the game with two outs in the fifth inning with his team trailing 4-1. His job was simple: keep the game close enough until his team could get going offensively. And he did just that, pitching 3 2/3 innings before allowing a runner to reach base as Vanderbilt scored seven unanswered runs to win the game.

“Execute one pitch at a time,” Kranzler admitted when asked what was going through his mind during that outing. “Just be where your feet are, be in the moment. Trying not to look at the scoreboard, trying not to look at pretty much anything other than who’s at the plate, what the count is and what pitch am I going to throw. I trusted the offense; I knew if I could just keep the score there, we were going to find a way to score enough runs to win it. Just try to do my part, do my job and compete.”

He's also had sustained periods of success, having tossed 14 2/3 innings in the month of May while allowing just one run on four hits. While his former coach Tim Corbin joked that Kranzler has always taken his game to the next level the deeper the NCAA season gets, the right-hander feels it isn’t the month but rather the situation.

“I’ve always been a guy that runs on adrenaline. When the moment’s higher, I typically pitch better. Just getting into a playoff atmosphere kind of gets the juices flowing.”

Kranzler is currently in a rare situation since the draft moved to July, actually pitching in affiliated ball in the same season he was selected. The right-hander was added to Salem’s roster on August 19, just the fifth pitcher under Craig Breslow to make his debut in the same season he was drafted. He joins a small list that is made up by 2025 draft class member Patrick Galle and 2024 draft class members Griffin Kilander, Cole Tolbert, and Calvin Bickerstaff.

While he hasn’t made many appearances so far (just three games and 5 1/3 innings), the right-hander has flashed some potential in his short professional career. On the mound, he’s looking to do whatever he can to help the team win regardless of his role or what the situation is.

“I think my average fastball last year was right around 93 and a half,” Kranzler said about his pitch mix. “The slider is definitely my bread and butter. That’s been my go-to pitch for as long as I can remember. On top of that, a cutter, splitter and occasionally a curveball. But the sinker, slider, cutter and splitter is the main mix.”

The right-hander admitted that leading up to the draft itself, there were no conversations with the Red Sox. In fact, he didn’t know he was going to be a member of the organization until the pick was made. What might have helped him land with the organization may have been his play in the MLB Draft League. Pitching with the Trenton Thunder, Kranzler made five starts, tossing 23 innings and striking out 23 batters while allowing just six earned runs. Outside of the performance, the right-hander stated it might have been some of the most fun he ever had on a baseball field while also helping prepare him for what pro ball would be like.

While he’s had a mix of usage between starting and relieving since his first year pitching for Vanderbilt, the Red Sox have used him out of the bullpen for his first three professional outings so far. So long as he sticks to his philosophy on the mound, he should have success in that role.

“Just attack hitters no matter who’s in the box. [It's] A fearless approach looking to do whatever I can to help my team win."

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