User:GhostRiver/kratz
Early life[edit]
Career[edit]
Toronto Blue Jays organization (2002–2008)[edit]
The Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected Kratz in the 29th round, 866th overall, of the 2002 MLB Draft.[1] He signed with the team and made his professional debut for the Medicine Hat Blue Jays, Toronto's Pioneer League affiliate. There, he batted .275 with four home runs in 44 games while serving as the team's primary catcher.[2]
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
Pittsburgh Pirates (2009–2010)[edit]
In January 2009, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Kratz to a minor league contract,[3] and he was assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians to start the season.[4]
- 2009
- 2010
Philadelphia Phillies (2011–2013)[edit]
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
Second stint with Toronto (2014)[edit]
- 2014
Kansas City Royals (2014–2015)[edit]
- 2014
- 2015
Seattle Mariners organization (2015)[edit]
- 2015
Second stint with Philadelphia (2015)[edit]
- 2015
Houston Astros (2016)[edit]
- 2016
Los Angeles Angels organization (2016)[edit]
- 2016
Second stint with Pittsburgh (2016)[edit]
- 2016
Third stint with Toronto (2016)[edit]
- 2016
Cleveland Indians organization (2017)[edit]
On December 1, 2016, the Cleveland Indians signed Kratz and Michael Martínez to minor league contracts that included invitations to spring training.[5] Cleveland carried Roberto Perez and Yan Gomes on the roster, so Kratz planned to serve as a mentor to players for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers while preparing for an opportunity to make the major league roster.[6][7]
- 2017
New York Yankees (2017–2018)[edit]
- 2017
- 2018
Milwaukee Brewers (2018)[edit]
- 2018
San Francisco Giants (2019)[edit]
During 2019 spring training, Kratz lost his role as Yasmani Grandal's backup catcher to Manny Piña, and on March 24, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for C.J. Hinojosa.[8] Giants starting catcher Buster Posey was returning from hip surgery, and manager Bruce Bochy hoped that using Kratz and Aramis Garcia would allow Posey more time to rest.[9][10] On April 17, Kratz caught all 18 innings of a game between the Giants and the Colorado Rockies that lasted five hours and 35 minutes. The Giants won the game on Kratz's walk-off fielder's choice RBI, making him the first catcher to field at least 18 innings and deliver the game-winning RBI since Bob Boone in 1982.[11] Kratz struggled on both sides of the plate: in addition to batting .125 in 36 plate appearances, he made four errors in 11 games as the Giants' catcher and caught only two runners stealing in nine attempts.[12] San Francisco designated Kratz for assignment on May 13.[13]
Tampa Bay Rays (2019)[edit]
- 2019
Second stint with New York (2019)[edit]
- 2019
Retirement[edit]
International career[edit]
Post-playing career[edit]
After retiring from professional baseball, Kratz expressed interest in broadcasting and coaching, and he took a position as a middle school baseball coach at Dock Mennonite Academy in Pennsylvania.[14] After two years coaching at the middle school level, he was promoted to coach of the high school varsity baseball team at Dock Mennonite.[15]
Personal life[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Topkins, Marc (May 17, 2019). "5 things to know about the newest new Rays catcher, Erik Kratz". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Jackson, Josh (October 19, 2010). "Path of the Pros: Erik Kratz". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Kovacevic, Dejan (January 20, 2009). "Hearings over salaries looming". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D6. Retrieved September 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kovacevic, Dejan (April 2, 2009). "Karstens wins starting job; one bullpen spot up in the air". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D1. Retrieved September 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bastian, Jordan (December 1, 2016). "Indians invite Martinez, Kratz to Spring Training". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Meisel, Zack (March 10, 2017). "The tale of the Cleveland Indians catcher who has seemingly played for every MLB team". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Moeller, Jeff (April 23, 2017). "Baseball: Former Phillies catcher Erik Kratz returns home". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ "Brewers trade NLDS hero Kratz to Giants". ESPN. March 24, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Shea, John (March 24, 2019). "Giants acquire backup catcher Erik Kratz, possibly Buster Posey's backup". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Pavlovic, Alex (March 24, 2019). "Bruce Bochy explains how Giants will utilize new catcher Erik Kratz". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Madia, Greg (April 18, 2019). "Another Transition? No Problem For Giants' Kratz". Daily News-Record. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ White, Marcus (May 20, 2019). "Giants trade struggling catcher Erik Kratz to Rays days after DFA". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Gorcey, Ryan (May 13, 2019). "Giants designate Erik Kratz for assignment". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Driver, David (March 30, 2021). "Kratz: From MLB Catcher To Middle School Coach". Daily News-Record. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Markol, Drew (November 17, 2022). "H.S baseball: Former Phillie Erik Kratz returning to alma mater as head coach at Dock". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved September 20, 2023.