Erik Kratz
| Erik Kratz | |
|---|---|
 Kratz on Phillies Photo Day 2013 | |
| Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Catcher | |
|
Born: June 15, 1980 Telford, Pennsylvania | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| July 17, 2010 for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Career statistics (through 2013 season) | |
| Batting average | .220 |
| Hits | 83 |
| Home runs | 18 |
| Runs batted in | 53 |
| Teams | |
Erik Floyd Kratz (born June 15, 1980) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He stands 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) and weighs 255 pounds (116 kg). Born in Telford, Pennsylvania, Kratz played baseball at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and Eastern Mennonite University until he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.
After playing for four years with minor-league affiliates for the Toronto Blue Jays, Kratz signed a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates to play for the Indianapolis Indians in 2009. He made his Major League debut on July 17, 2010 to replace Jason Jaramillo. Before the 2011 season, Kratz signed a minor-league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies and played with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, appearing twice in the 2011 season and several times in the 2012 season with the Phillies.
Early life
Kratz graduated from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia.[1] While with the Eastern Mennonite Royals from 1999 to 2002, he caught every at-bat for every game he played and was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year twice.[2]
Professional career
Draft
Kratz was selected by the Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.[3] He was the first player to be drafted out of Eastern Mennonite University.[3]
Minor league career
After the draft, Kratz played the 2005 season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.[4] There, he had a .205 batting average (BA), 11 home runs, and 34 runs batted in.[4] From 2006 to 2008, Kratz alternated between the Fisher Cats and the Syracuse Chiefs.[4] In 2006, he had a combined .228 BA, 7 home runs, and 34 RBIs; in 2007, he had a combined .235 BA, 13 home runs, and 49 RBIs; in 2008, he had a combined .239 BA, 16 home runs, and 43 RBIs.[4] On June 9, 2008, he was named the International League Player of the Week.[4]
Pittsburgh Pirates
2009
In 2009, Kratz signed with the Pirates, who were in need of a primary Triple-A catcher after the call up of Robinzon Diaz to replace the injured Ryan Doumit.[citation needed] He played the 2009 season with the Indianapolis Indians and finished with a .273 BA, 11 home runs, and 43 RBIs.[4] He was named the International League Mid-Season All-Star and the International League Triple-A All-Star Game Top Star on July 15 and the International League Post-Season All-Star on September 1.[4]
2010
Kratz began the 2010 season with the Indians and finished his minor league season with a .274 BA, 9 home runs, and 41 RBIs.[4] On July 14, he was named the International League Mid-Season All-Star for the second time.[4]
On July 12, 2010 the Pirates optioned catcher Jason Jaramillo to Triple-A Indianapolis Indians and the team announced Kratz would be called up to replace him.[citation needed]
He made his Major League debut on July 17, 2010 against the Houston Astros. He batted 7th and recorded his first hit against Astros starter Bud Norris, a single to right center field and drove in his first run later in the game. He finished the night hitting 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Kratz appeared in 9 games over a two-week period, batting .118.
Philadelphia Phillies
2011
Kratz signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the 2011 season. He spent the season with the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs, where he batted a .288 BA with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs.[4] On July 13, he won his third International League Mid-Season All-Star award.[4] He was called up to the big league club on September 16,[5] and went on to play two games with the Phillies, recording two hits in six at-bats.
2012
He quickly began producing offensively, registering a 1.395 OPS in his first 16 games. His hot hitting while filling in for the injured Ruiz caused former Wilmington News Journal beat writer David Hale to "Kratz his hands" uncontrollably. Ultimately, Kratz hit .248 with 9 home runs in 50 games and 141 at-bats.
2013
Kratz made his first Major League Opening Day roster with the Phillies in 2013. He served as the team's primary catcher while Ruiz served a 25-day drug suspension,[6] but was placed on the disabled list on June 9 with a torn medial meniscus and underwent surgery.[7] He returned to the club on July 21, and continued as backup catcher thereafter. Kratz finished the season with a .213 batting average, 42 hits, 9 home runs, and 26 RBIs.
Toronto Blue Jays
On December 3, 2013, Kratz, along with pitcher Rob Rasmussen, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Brad Lincoln.[8]
Personal life
Kratz is a devout member of the Souderton, Pennsylvania Mennonite Church. Up until 2009, Kratz worked a construction job in the winters to support his family. He has a wife named Sarah and two sons named Brayden and Ethan.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Good, Sheldon (3 October 2011). "Ballplayer feels right at home". Mennonite World Review. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ↑ "EMU, Christopher Dock grad gets big-league baseball call". Mennonite World Review. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Miller, Sam (September 14, 2012). "Pebble Hunting: The best story of 2012". Baseball Prospectus (Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, LLC.). Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 "Erik Kratz Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ↑ Zolecki, Todd (17 September 2011). "Brown among several Phillies callups". phillies.com: News. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ↑ "Carlos Ruiz of Philadelphia Phillies suspended for 25 games after positive test". ESPN. November 12, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ↑ Short, D.J. (June 10, 2013). "Erik Kratz to undergo surgery for medial mensicus tear in knee". HardballTalk. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ↑ #Phillies announce acquisition of RHP Brad Lincoln from #Blue Jays for C Erik Kratz and LHP Rob Rasmussen.
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External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
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