Kratz gets The Call

Story by James De Boer
EMU sports: www.emu.edu
 

Eight years after graduating from Eastern Mennonite University, Erik Kratz finally got the call he wanted – the call to the big leagues.

Kratz, who played for the Waynesboro Generals in 2000, has patiently worked his way through baseball’s minor leagues before getting his big call during Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star game in Allentown, Pa., just 45 minutes from his hometown in Telford, Pa. He is now a full-fledged member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming part of a select crew of former Royals to play at the top level of their professional sport.

After being selected in the 29th round of the 2002 baseball draft, Kratz toiled for seven years in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, struggling to get the consistent playing time that would allow him to show off his abilities. In 2009, the Pirates picked him up and sent him to their AAA affiliate, Indianapolis. An injury in Pittsburgh gave Kratz the opportunity he needed.

The Pirates’ starting catcher, Ryan Doumit, got hurt early in the season and so the team called up their top catcher from Indianapolis, Robinson Diaz. The move left Kratz as the Indians’ starting catcher. The former Royal flourished, batting .273 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs. He was named a mid-season and postseason International League All-Star, and the MVP of the AAA All-Star game.

Kratz nearly made the big leagues out of spring training this year, but was a late cut from camp as the Pirates kept Jason Jaramillo as their backup to Doumit. But with Kratz bettering his 2009 performance and Jaramillo struggling, Pittsburgh made the move.

With a touch of class towards the 30-year-old, the Pirates turned a spotlight on Kratz by giving him the official promotion during Wednesday’s AAA All-Star Game. He had started the game behind the plate, but was pulled aside after the fourth inning by his manager, Frank Kemblas.

During an in-game interview on television, Kratz said Kemblas asked him a question.

“He (Kemblas) was like, ‘You only had one more inning anyways,'” Kratz said. “‘Would you rather go to the big leagues or go back into the game?'”

So for the first time after eight and a half minor league season, Kratz will join the Major League Pittsburgh team Friday when they host the Houston Astros at PNC Park. As the backup catcher to Doumit, Kratz will likely get his first game experience within a few days. The Pirates wrap up a ten-game homestand on Sunday, July 25, giving friends and family from Pennsylvania and Virginia a good chance to see him in a Pirates uniform.

Through 56 games with Indianapolis this summer, Kratz is batting a career best .296 with nine homeruns, 19 doubles and 37 RBIs. He also has a career high .946 OPS, which is a combination of on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Rob Roeschley, Kratz’s coach while at EMU, said that Kratz had the diligence to do what he needed every day and earned his shot at the big leagues.

“It’s totally a reflection on him and the work that he put forth, “Roeschley said. “He did everything he needed to get in position to get drafted and he did everything in his pro career to put himself in the position he is in now. If anyone else besides Erik deserves credit it’s his wife, Sarah. She stood beside him and supported him and has shown what a fine wife she is. She should get a lot of credit.”

Kratz was a two-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year and All-ODAC First Team selection. He holds ODAC records for doubles in a season and career, and slugging percentage in a season. His 77 doubles are also the career record for the entire NCAA Div. III.

Roeschley said that what made Kratz so important to his EMU teams from 1999-2002 is something he can use as he moves to Pittsburgh.

“He knew how to analyze hitters and what they were doing,” Roeschley said, “and how to handle pitchers. Erik probably took a couple of teams that would have been a few games over .500 (without him) to a higher level than that. He meant a lot to those teams.”

Kratz meant enough to catch every at-bat during every game for all four of his seasons in a Royals uniform. Eastern Mennonite went 89-54-1 during that time, including a program-best 29-13 during Kratz’s senior season.

Kratz, who has his jersey retired at EMU, is the second former Royal to play for a Major League Baseball team. Larry Sheets (’82), who was drafted by the Orioles out of high school but played basketball in the off-season at EMU, spent eight seasons with Baltimore, Detroit and Seattle. Men’s volleyball star Dominick Porter (’07) has played professionally in Dresden, Germany. And baseball player Maven Huffman (’98) has wrestled professionally. Both Huffman and Sheets are already in the EMU Hall of Honor.