It could be argued that Kratz is the most successful athlete to come out of 91����Ƶ. A four-year member of the Diamond Royals, Kratz was an NCAA Second Team All-American in 2002 and a First Team All-South Region honoree in 2001 and 2002. Those two seasons also saw Kratz named the ODAC Player of the Year and All-ODAC First Team. He was named All-ODAC Second Team during the 2000 season.

He holds the ODAC and 91����Ƶ career record in doubles (77), hits (220), and putouts (1019), and the 91����Ƶ record in runs scored (147), home runs (33), RBIs (159), batting average (.415), slugging percentage (.762), total bases (404), and games played (155). Kratz had his jersey retired after his final game in 2002, and was inducted into the 91����Ƶ Hall of Honor in 2012. ��

He was drafted in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, and made his MLB debut in 2010 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his 11-year MLB career, he played for the Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, and the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2019, he was selected for Team USA in the 2019 WBSC Premier12, in which he was named the best catcher of the tournament.

Kratz is now the head varsity baseball coach at Dock Mennonite Academy, where he graduated from in 1998. He is also a co-host of the YouTube podcast Foul Territory.��

Kratz, along with 91����Ƶ’s three other ODAC Hall of Fame inductees, will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the men’s basketball game against Roanoke inside Yoder Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.����

Then Erik Kratz stepped to the plate. His bat met the first pitch he saw, producing a thunderous crash that reverberated throughout the room. All other sounds seemingly vanished. Then he did it again. And again. And again.

That’s a lot of noise by one of the quiet in the land.

Kratz is a member of Harris­on­burg (Va.) Mennonite Church and a graduate of Christopher Dock High School in Lansdale, Pa., and 91����Ƶ in Harrisonburg. He is also a 14-year veteran of professional baseball and the only known Mennonite church member to play in the major leagues.

Kratz’s recent odyssey through the major leagues is outlined in a covering his Jan. 18 baseball clinic at Goshen College and�� a later speaking engagement — a fundraiser for the Waterford Mennonite Church youth group, where he shared stories and reflections from his career.

According to , Kratz signed with the San Diego Padres in November.

One of the most startling statistics of his All-American career at 91����Ƶ was that he caught every game, and all nine innings of every game, of his four-year career. He was twice named ODAC Player of the Year.

Kratz was drafted in the 29th round of the 2002 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He then played for 10 teams in three countries — Canada and the Dominican Republic as well as the United States — during the next eight years before making his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010.

He was elected to the in 2012 and his jersey number (#14) was retired. He and Sarah Troyer ’01 Kratz have three children.

But 91����Ƶ’s growing success, including a recent upset of Bridgewater’s highly touted team, suggests that Spotts’ recruiting philosophy—and his mission for the Royals program –is helping the Royals compete at a higher level.

Of the 42 players on the Royals roster, 12 are from the Shenandoah Valley.

The wealth of local talent has deep roots: a love of baseball has often been passed down through the generations of Valley families. And there’s the rich local history of the game: The , which dates to 1897, and the , dating to 1925, have offered both playing and spectating opportunities for decades (until becoming a collegiate league in 1961, the Valley League was open to any player).

Valley baseball players

“There’s not much else to do in the Valley but play ball,” jokes Martin Clark, a sophomore pitcher who graduated from Broadway High School.

Others from Rockingham County (and listed by their respective high schools) are freshman pitcher Logan Phelps, Spotswood, and sophomore catcher Ryan Hedrick, Turner Ashby.

From the northern Valley region come senior pitcher Ryan Henschel, Stonewall Jackson; freshman outfielder Julian Bussells and junior pitcher Ryan Tierney, Warren County; and sophomore catcher Aaron Cook, Luray.

The southern Valley is represented by freshman pitcher Tristan Childress, Waynesboro, and senior outfielder and pitcher Kyle Armstrong, Riverheads.

This group of mostly underclass local talent symbolizes Spotts’ recruiting strategy—and it’s one factor contributing to a significant turn-around in the program’s history.

When Spotts first started in 2013, the games were sparsely attended. Now on game days, cars line College Avenue, the small hillside behind the home dugouts is crowded with fans and their lawn chairs and blankets (and usually a few dogs, too), and the concession trailer does good business.

More and more wins

In 2011 and 2012, 91����Ƶ managed only 11 wins. Most ODAC schools would look at their schedules before the season started and etch a “W” next to 91����Ƶ’s name. In 2013, after Spotts arrived, 91����Ƶ jumped to 15 wins. Last year, the Royals finished the season with a 20-19 record, notching their first winning record since 2002 (that year, the team was led by , currently a catcher for the Kansas City Royals). It was also just the third 20-win season in program history.

According to Spotts, who came to 91����Ƶ after spending 14 seasons at Bridgewater College, the ODAC has improved in competition, commitment level and facilities in the past five to seven years. He speculated that the ODAC could be one of the top three Division III conferences in the country. In a , two teams in the 14-team conference, including Randolph-Macon at seventh, are ranked in top 20 (Bridgewater was ranked 19th until dropping out during the March 24 polling).

Ryan McAlister��’14 saw the struggling program turn around under Spotts’ guidance. He arrived at 91����Ƶ in 2011 from nearby Turner Ashby High School and one of the state’s most consistently competitive baseball programs (TA teams have earned six AA state titles and several graduates have gone on to professional careers in Major League Baseball).

“Going from a very competitive school in high school, to my first year here – winning 11 games and losing 28 – it was a lot different than being on a winning program,” said McAlister, who currently coaches the junior varsity team at his alma mater.

Planned, disciplined practices

Then Spotts took over. McAlister, along with the other players, took a liking to their new coach. Practices felt productive, and team chemistry began to feel cohesive.

Under Spotts’ coaching, McAlister earned All-State and All-ODAC honors. In his final season, McAlister batted .365 and held a .447 on-base percentage. He tied for the team-high in runs scored with 35, and led the team in stolen bases with 13.

Spotts is “thorough and disciplined, and he’s got a plan,” says Dave McAlister, who hardly missed one of his son’s home games. “He’s organized. He’s a good fit for 91����Ƶ, and 91����Ƶ’s a good fit for him.”

Of his son’s progress on and off the field, McAlister says 91����Ƶ was an excellent choice: “At 91����Ƶ, Ryan picked up what we might call maturity things.”

Tristan Childress, a freshman pitcher, has entered the legacy that McAlister left behind. He was also recruited by Bridgewater, but Spotts proved to be a deciding factor, Childress said, adding that he found the energy Spotts brings to the field “convincing.” Perhaps more importantly, Childress said the senior leadership were just as positive about the program and the upcoming season.

Recruiting coachable, motivated students

When recruiting players, Spotts says he looks for coachable and motivated student-athletes “who want to be a part of the campus community and are committed to being a part of the academic and athletic community at 91����Ƶ.”

“These players are committed to making our baseball program on of the top in the ODAC,” he said, “and they understand the hard work and year round commitment that is involved in competing in a college baseball program.�� I continually talk about our team and each player leaving their mark on our program in a positive way.”

In the previous two seasons, seven players have earned s and one player, Jonathan Estrada, was named to the .

As for future recruits, Spotts says he’s always on the lookout for local talent. A common misconception among prospective students, he says, is that 91����Ƶ is only open to those of the Mennonite faith.

Like the game of baseball, 91����Ƶ is “open to all faiths,” he says. “Come visit. You may not come here if you do visit, but you’ll think hard about it.”

Check out our��top 10 social media posts and shares of 2014!

1. Ice Bucket Challenge

91����Ƶ President Loren Swartzendruber participated in the #IceBucketChallenge. The challenge, which went viral around mid-year, involves dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease. Since July 29, 2014 the has received more than $115 million in donations.

2. Erik Kratz in World Series

Erik Kratz, a 2002 alumnus and former Valley League player, becomes the first 91����Ƶ graduate and only the second former Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball player to reach the World Series. He is a back-up catcher for the Kansas City Royals.

3. David Falk’s Dunk Makes ESPN Sportscenter’s Top-10

David Falk makes after a monstrous dunk during the 2013-14 season! This video was submitted to ESPN by 91����Ƶ’s James De Boer, sports information director.

4. 91����Ƶ Musical!

Emily Shenk leads fellow students in a High School Musical tribute video prior to Homecoming and Family Weekend 2014.

5. Most. Diverse. Class. Ever!

91����Ƶ welcomed its most diverse class in the fall of 2014 and became one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in Virginia. At the same time 91����Ƶ launched three new graduate programs and continued to expand online offerings.

6. Oscars Selfie

91����Ƶ faculty and staff produced their own selfie in recognition of the 2014 selfie made famous at the Oscars.

7. The 91����Ƶ “emu” Returns from Cross-Cultural Travels Around the World

The 91����Ƶ “emu” returned to campus during Homecoming and Family Weekend after an extended absence during which��he traveled around with several cross-cultural groups.

8. 91����Ƶ Black Student Union Members Organize a #DontShoot Photo

91����Ƶ Black Student Union members organize a #DontShoot photo in a show of support in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.��President Swartzendruber and other administrators opened the academic year with an invitation to support and engage each other, citing the record diversity of the incoming class as a unique “enrichment��of our shared life as a community of learning.”

9. Finals Week Calls For a Cup of Coffee

It was finals week during the fall semester and the staff at the student-run Common Grounds Coffeehouse did their best to motivate fellow��students.

10. Students Kick Off New Year with Lawn Party

The student-led campus activities council hosted a lawn party to kick off the 2014-15 academic year. Lots of dancing, lots of fun!

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91����Ƶ grad Jeremy Auker (2003, ), didn’t get home until after 1 a.m. after being at Burlington Athletic Stadium for nearly 15 hours. Auker had a front office job, but such is life in the minor leagues of professional baseball, where both team employees and players put in long hours with very little pay.

Auker didn’t go into this work for its monetary rewards ­– the big bucks are reserved for those at the pinnacle of pro sports. A former baseball player for 91����Ƶ, Auker has worked his way up the minor league ladder just like his former 91����Ƶ teammate, .

But while Kratz gets on the field and in the limelight, Auker is more behind the scenes as one whose job is to get fans in the stands in order to see future Major Leaguers.

Auker made it to the Triple-A level, the highest in the minors, for the first time during the 2014 season as the corporate sales executive for the Charlotte (N.C.) Knights, the top farm team of the Chicago White Sox.

Auker was part of a staff that in December was honored with the prestigious Bob Freitas Award by Baseball America, an industry leader in the minor leagues. “The award recognizes long-term excellence in the operation of minor league franchises with a focus on the area of market commitment, operational practices, community involvement and business success,” according to Baseball America.

Auker joined Charlotte at the end of its 2013 season after he had spent four years with the Single-A minor league team in Savannah, Ga., as the vice president of business development.

Married with three young children, he and his wife are both from Bassett, Va., and they wanted to move closer to family in Virginia from Georgia. He was hired in Charlotte by Scotty Brown, the general manager.

“Basically he goes out and sells sponsorships. He has really turned it up a notch since the end of the season,” Brown said in December 2014. “We needed someone with experience and you have to know the industry. You have to have a certain integrity and Jeremy is one of those guys.”

Auker got hooked on minor league baseball after his sophomore year at 91����Ƶ, when he had an internship in 2001 with the minor league team in Martinsville, Va., near his home in Bassett.

“I was thrilled about it. I just loved it,” said Auker, whose myriad of duties included driving players to and from the airport in Greensboro, N.C. when they were demoted or promoted. “I went back and did another internship after my senior year.”

Auker worked in Burlington and then with the Salem Red Sox with Adam Pohl, now the radio broadcaster for the Bowie (Md.) Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League. “Jeremy comes off as very quiet. He basically doesn’t have an enemy in the world,” said Pohl. “He knows the industry very well in tickets and corporate sales. Most importantly he is a guy who has a love for baseball. He has worked in many different markets and has had success.”

For now Auker is one step below the big leagues. “There is always the allure of Major League Baseball,” he said. “[But] I like the minors better. It is more community based. I like being a part of the community.”

On July 28, Erik Kratz was scratched from the lineup of the Buffalo Bisons AAA minor-league baseball team. The Toronto Blue Jays had just traded the Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church member to the Kansas City Royals.

Three months later, Kratz is in the World Series.

“I wish I could put it into words,” he said by phone Oct. 17 while feeding his son oatmeal on a day off.

Read the full article at …

The Toronto Blue Jays had traded for Kratz this past December, but sent him to Kansas City in an effort to get another infielder on their roster. ��He and pitcher Liam Hendricks were part of a deal which sent infielder Danny Valencia to Toronto. �� The trade was completed on Monday and Kratz is expected to be in uniform Tuesday night when the Royals host Minnesota. ��Kansas City is Kratz’s fourth big league club since 2010, as he also played for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

He split the first half of this season between the Toronto Blue Jays and their Triple-A team in Buffalo (N.Y.). ��In 34 games with the Blue Jays, he was batting .198 with three homeruns and 10 RBIs. ��Kratz was batting .299 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 27 games with the Triple-A Bisons.

Despite the midseason trade, Kratz maintains his position on a team fighting for the playoffs. ��Both Kansas City and Toronto are currently in second place in their respective divisions and in the hunt for a wild card spot.

Kratz maintained his characteristic positive attitude about both teams in two messages on his Twitter account.

“Thanks����organization for the opportunity to play for such a wonderful team and city. My family and I are grateful for your support! ��Now look forward to our new beginning with the��. See you soon KC!��.”

Kratz was a��four-year starter behind the plate for 91����Ƶ’s Royals, he set the NCAA record for career doubles at 77 and broke 27 program records.

Kratz had his jersey retired at 91����Ƶ and was inducted into the school’s����in 2012.

Posey earns a spot on the All-State First Team as a utility player. Starting as an outfielder and 91����Ƶ’s No. 1 pitcher, Posey completed one of the finest all-around seasons in program history. He was a terror atop the batting order, hitting .424 with 41 runs and 23 RBIs. His 72 hits led the nation during the regular season and tied an 91����Ƶ record set by current MLBer Erik Kratz.�� Posey added 10 doubles, three triples and his first career homerun. He was the lone 91����Ƶ regular with more walks than strikeouts (14 to 13) and he was second on the team with nine stolen bases.

On the hill, Posey was 4-4 with one complete game and a 4.57 ERA. He struck out 56 batters in 65.0 innings and walked only four. Posey was second in the nation with a 14.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and third nationally with 0.55 walks per nine innings. He was also named All-ODAC First Team and All-Region by two different organizations.

McAlister repeats his All-ODAC Second Team award with an All-State Second Team honor. A four-year starter at second base, he batted .365 with 29 runs and 23 RBIs. His .447 on-base percentage was second on the team only to Posey’s .471. McAlister led the ODAC with nine sacrifices and added 12 stolen bases. He also broke Eastern Mennonite’s record for career assists, finishing with 329.

Shenandoah University’s Michael Paul was named Player of the Year while teammate Darrell Thompson and Ferrum’s Jake Perkins shared Pitcher of the Year honors. Rounding out top honors was Randolph-Macon College’s Nick Maiolo as Rookie of the Year and Bridgewater’s Curt Kendall tabbed as Coach of the Year.

The Royals finished with a record of 20-19 this spring, notching their first winning record since the Kratz era ended in 2002. It was also just the third 20-win season in program history.

Posey started all 39 of the Royals’ games, spending most of his time either in the outfield or as the No. 1 pitcher. He also started a few games at first base. The left-handed batter hit .424 and led the nation with 72 hits during the regular season.

He had team highs with his batting average and hits, as well as a .471 on-base percentage, 41 runs and three triples. Posey added 10 doubles, 23 RBIs, 14 walks and nine stolen bases, also setting an 91����Ƶ record with 170 at-bats.

A right-handed pitcher, he charted a record of 4-4 with a 4.57 ERA in 65.0 innings. Posey showed pin-point control on the hill, with his 14.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio being second in the nation. He had 56 strikeouts compared to just four walks, and also was third nationally in walks allowed per nine innings at 0.55.

Posey was one of 14 players from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference named to the ABCA’s three all-region teams. Click here to see the full list of honorees from the ABCA.

Earlier this spring, Posey was named All-South Region Second Team by D3baseball.com.

Eastern Mennonite’s baseball men were 20-19 this year, earning their most wins since 2002, when current MLB-player Erik Kratz was a senior.

The Royals improved to 16-17 with that road decision, giving them the most wins in a season since 2002.��The team finished the season nine days later at 20-19 overall.

For perspective, the 2002 team, which ended the season 29-13, featured star senior Erik Kratz, a current player in the Toronto Blue Jays system behind the plate. In��2013, Kratz was a starting catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. While at 91����Ƶ, Kratz was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Year twice and finished his 91����Ƶ career with the NCAA record 75 doubles.

The Royals have seen their win total rise over the past two years under the guidance of . 91����Ƶ won 15 games in 2013 after totaling 11 wins the previous three seasons (2010-12). The 20 wins earned this year are the most earned since the 2002 team collected 29 wins en route to a fourth-place finish in the ODAC.

Stand-out players during the April 10, 2014 game that tipped the season’s win-loss balance over .500:

• ��(Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) wrapped up the scoring with a two-run single
• ��(Miami, Fla./Doral Academy)��batted 4-5
• ��(Poquoson, Va./Poquoson) scored twice
• ��(Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) had two doubles and two runs
• ��(Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) smacked two doubles
• ��(Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith) scored twice
• Starting pitcher����(Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) threw 6.0+ scoreless innings to improve to 2-3
• ��(New Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson) tossed scoreless ball for two innings

These and other players kept the momentum going the last few games of the season, and then .

Senior Ryan McAlister�� was recognized as the Royals “Athlete of the Week” on April 21.

Learning to lead through hardship

McAlister was a consistent starter for the baseball team all four of his years at 91����Ƶ. ��He was a key player this spring in lifting the team above .500 to a winning record. McAlister played��the best game of his career on Senior Saturday, April 12, when he batted 5-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs in an exciting 18-8 victory over Virginia Wesleyan College. (.)

“[Coach Spotts] always tells us that he’s a winner and we can be winners, too,” said Ryan. ��“It was easy to get behind the coach and buy into the winning plan he brought to us, because he has a lot of knowledge, experience and success in the game.”

Ryan admits that his first two years on the 91����Ƶ baseball team were tough – the team struggled with a losing record – but he says he would not trade that experience for anything. ��Being a starter for his team for four years helped him play a more prominent role on his team and become a vocal leader, he says.

“As a freshman, I led by example. ��I did things the right way. ��I played the game hard,” Ryan explained. ��“And as I started to gain more experience and the seniors started to graduate, I became more vocal.”

With plans to finish classes in December, the sports and recreational leadership major says he really appreciates the small class sizes that 91����Ƶ offers and the relationships he has built with his professors.

Learn more about 91����Ƶ student-athletes

• Become a student-athlete at 91����Ƶ

“It’s an honor to make the big leagues and I’m very blessed,” Kratz said in fall 2012, reflecting on his season as a part-time starting catch for the Philadelphia Phillies. “I’m very blessed.”

Kratz was a relative unknown to Phillies fans even in early 2012 – sometimes taking pictures for them when asked as they posed with more recognizable players. But after catchers Carlos Ruiz and Brian Schneider suffered injuries, Kratz moved into the starting role in early August and ended the season hitting .270 with five home runs and 12 RBI, including a game-winning home run off all-star closer Craig Kimbrel of the Atlanta Braves.

Thanks to his heroics, Kratz was the center of attention during a subsequent charity event sponsored by a Phillies teammate with fans clamoring to see their new-found star, according to a Philly.com report.

“I’m just blessed and honored to be playing the game I love,” said Kratz, who towers above most people at 6-foot 4-inches, 255 pounds.

A native of Telford, Pennsylvania, Kratz received praise from teammates during his time as a starting catcher.

“He did a great job [in 2012],” Roy Halladay said to MLB.com, who picked up a win with Kratz behind the plate. “We’re fortunate. Carlos [Ruiz]��is irreplaceable, but Kratz is very intelligent. He does a great job calling a game.”

“He’s Thor,” added Kevin Frandsen in comparing his teammate to a hammer-wielding god of Norse mythology.

Charlie Manuel, who manages the Phillies, added that Kratz has proven his value “as a backup catcher – at the last – in the big leagues” during a press conference before the Phillies last series of the season.

“He’s strong, he’s durable, he definitely showed he can call the game, he definitely showed that he can throw. He’s shown he can hit a home run. I look at him and I say, we got better if Kratz becomes our backup catcher,” said Manuel.

Called to the Hall

91����Ƶ inducted Kratz into its Athletics Hall of Honor on Oct. 13 during its Homecoming and Family Weekend. During the ceremony ­- where he shared the spotlight with 91����Ƶ’s 1980 field hockey team, also entering the Hall of Honor – Kratz said it was “cool” to return to 91����Ƶ.

“It means the world to me to have my friends, coaches and those that are the most important to me here. The stories and memories we have, from being on bus trips to Florida or being in class, they’re just special to me.”

At 91����Ƶ, Kratz was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002, claiming an NCAA record for career doubles with 77. During his senior season, he set single-season school records with 72 hits, 48 runs, 25 doubles, 14 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .507 batting average.

He graduated as the school’s all-time leader in career hits (220), home runs (33), doubles (77), RBIs (159), runs (147), batting average (.415), slugging percentage (.762) and total bases (404). In addition, Kratz was behind the plate for each pitch during his four-year 91����Ƶ career.

Kratz thanked his wife, Sarah, a 2001 91����Ƶ graduate and mother to his two sons and newborn daughter, for her support during his 11-year minor league career.

“I thank the Lord every day for my family, friends and the chance to play a game. The Internet will always keep my stats, but I’ll forever keep my friends and family.”

Read more about Erik Kratz

But there were plenty of rocky moments. Like 2004, when he was put on the “phantom” disabled list for a season – meaning he was listed as injured even though he was healthy, only to clear roster space. Or the time he was demoted on his birthday. Or the spring training where he and his wife couldn’t pay next month’s rent.

Did he ever think about quitting? “How many times?” he said wryly, while driving to the Phillies’ stadium recently. “I think I’d be an idiot to not have thought about quitting.”

All that makes his first big splash in the majors this year – already made remarkable by his age, 32, and his background as a graduate of Division III 91����Ƶ – seem like a fairy tale.

Sure, he’s been called up to the big leagues before – for two weeks in 2010 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and again in 2011 for the Philadelphia Phillies. But he’s never stuck like this. With Philadelphia’s All-Star catcher Carlos Ruiz put on the disabled list in July, Kratz has played almost every day and produced at an All-Star level. He has seven home runs in 79 at-bats – that’s a homer every 11.3 ABs – he’s hitting .291 and he’s slugging .646. Of his 23 hits, 14 have been for extra bases.

He’s also thrown out 10 of 21 base stealers – a 47.6-percent clip, far exceeding Ruiz’s 37.2 percent before he got hurt. He’s allowed just one passed ball and has made only one error.

Now, with fellow reserve catcher Brian Schneider joining Ruiz on the DL Friday, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Kratz is, for the first time in his life, an everyday major-league starter.

But after enduring the lifestyle most only know from the Crash Davis character in the movie “Bull Durham” for 10 years, Kratz still doesn’t believe he’s made it. He can’t afford to think that way. No matter how many home runs he hits today, he might get sent down tomorrow.

“If you don’t think that’s possible, then that’s when it’s going to blindside you,” he said. “You can always get sent down, you can always get released, and you can not find another team. That’s something that’s always very real, it’s always in front of me that it could always happen.”

He knows rejection all too well to forget it.

Kratz’s debut in varsity high school baseball was something of an omen.

As a junior – the first year he made the varsity squad at – he wasn’t supposed to be an everyday player. But one day, the team’s starting catcher was caught smoking a cigarette during school, resulting in a brief suspension. Kratz started in his place, hit an opposite-field homer in his first at-bat, and became a mainstay at catcher.

An injury opens up playing time, and Kratz fills in admirably…sound familiar?

Still, Kratz never became a hot-shot college prospect. He ended up at 91����Ƶ because coach Rob Roeschley said he’d play every day there, and there weren’t many other schools interested.

“I matured late,” Kratz said.

When he did mature, he became the best player to ever play at 91����Ƶ. His senior season (2002), he set single-season school records in nearly every major offensive category: batting average (.507), slugging (.993), on-base (.585), home runs (14), hits (72), RBIs (59) and runs scored (48, tied with Jimmy Pollard).

He is the only 91����Ƶ athlete to be named the Player of the Year in baseball – he won it in 2001 and ’02 – and he led the Royals to two of the best seasons in their 44-year history: 23-16-1 in ’01, 29-13 in ’02. (The .690 winning percentage in ’02 is the school’s all-time best.)
“When I had him at 91����Ƶ, I remember saying to assistant coaches, ‘If this guy can’t make it, what kind of talent level does it take to actually make it?’” Roeschley said.

After marrying his college sweetheart, Sarah – a graduate of and 91����Ƶ – in his senior year, he was selected in the 29th round of the MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, and a long, tumultuous pro career began.

As you might imagine for a minor-league journeyman, Kratz has plenty of colorful anecdotes. The first, when he received his first professional assignment, reveals just how little Kratz knew about what was about to transpire.

The Rookie League team he was assigned to was listed as “Medicine Hat, AL”. That didn’t make Kratz or his wife very happy – he had no interest in going to Alabama.

“My wife said, ‘Alabama? How are we going to get down to Alabama?’” Kratz recalled.

It turned out he wasn’t going there at all; AL actually stood for Alberta, Canada.

But even when Kratz – who also played for the and the during his college offseasons – didn’t know minor-league logistics, he could always hit. His first season with Medicine Hat, he hit .275 with four home runs in 44 games. By age 24, he had already been promoted to double-A New Hampshire.

“Twenty-four in double-A, that’s not bad,” Kratz said.

“But,” he added with a laugh, “then it was five years later, and I was 28, still bouncing back and forth in double-A.”

He finally made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates at age 30, but hit just .118 over nine games and was sent back down. At that point, Kratz, who had just turned 30, had already spent plenty of time wondering if he’d ever really stick in the majors.

“I always felt like I was good enough to move on to the next level – whatever that level would be,” he said. “But I see a lot of people that think they’re better than the next person, and it’s easy to see that on the outside and be like, ‘Hey, you’re not really better than that person.’ You think to yourself, ‘Could that be? Am I blind to what my real ability is?’”

Now, it certainly doesn’t appear that way.

Kratz’s teammates are beginning to notice the big, red-haired catcher from 91����Ƶ.

After Roy Halladay pitched to Kratz for the first time Aug. 5, he said to the media of Kratz, “He’s very intelligent. He does a great job of calling a game.”

After Kratz hit his most recent home run Aug. 20 against the Reds, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was asked whether Kratz has become a “building block” for the organization.

“Kratzy’s doing a tremendous job,” Manuel responded. “Kratzy’s showing that not only can he handle big-league pitching, but he can catch and he can throw. And that’s good – that’s tremendous.”

With his big-league success and the praise, Kratz – who spends his offseasons with his wife and two children in Harrisonburg, and eventually with a third child who’s due in a month – still doesn’t feel comfortable saying that he’ll be with a big-league club next season. He said the Phillies’ management hasn’t given him any indication that it will keep him. And with Ruiz and Schneider expected to come off the DL in September, Philadelphia – hardly a contender at 61-67 – will eventually have one catcher too many.

But whether Kratz is released, or whether this is the start of a multi-year major-league career, he’ll be prepared.

“The one thing that I don’t have that I can’t go out and get in a hot second is years and years of experience in the big leagues,” he said. “…I don’t ever feel like I’ve done enough.”

Courtesy Daily News Record, August 27, 2012

Both former Royals are originally from Telford, PA, and graduates of .�� They have been named the school’s Young Alumni of the Year, an award which is based on demonstration of academic, spiritual, and lifestyle practices as outlined in the school’s graduate profile carried out since graduation.�� The duo will be honored at the school Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 19-20.�� Kratz will also be inducted into the previous weekend.

Heavener is a 2003 graduate of Christopher Dock before making her way to 91����Ƶ.�� She was a three-year starter at midfielder on the Lady Royals’ field hockey team, playing in a total of 65 games in four seasons.�� Heavener was also named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association D-III National Academic Team.

As a student at 91����Ƶ, she started working in the office of the Senate Majority Leader and after graduating, continued to work in Washington, D.C., with the Faith and Politics Institute and as a lobbyist for the Aircraft & Pilots Association. ��In March 2012, she was chosen for a global advocacy campaign called , left her job on Capitol Hill, and lived with the Dayak tribe in Borneo, Indonesia.�� There Heavener worked with a team in the oldest rainforest on the planet to stop illegal deforestation, educate locals, and rescue orangutans. Her 100 days in the jungle will be released as a documentary, “The Rise of the Eco-Warriors,” in early 2013. ��She currently lives in Washington, D.C., and works as the Facilitator for DeforestACTION.

Kratz was a four-year starter at catcher for the Royals, completing possibly the best baseball career ever by a Royal.�� He was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year in both of his final two seasons, 2001 and 2002.�� He graduated with the NCAA record for career doubles, and also held 20 season and career records at 91����Ƶ.

Since leaving college, Kratz has continued his playing days, spending much of the past decade in Minor League baseball.�� His work ethic paid off when he finally made his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010.�� Kratz signed with his hometown Philadelphia Phillies the following year, and this summer is getting significant playing time.�� As of Aug. 16, Kratz has played in 23 games for the Phillies with a .273 batting average, 5 homeruns and 13 RBIs.

For more information on Kratz, .�� For more information on 91����Ƶ’s Hall of Honor, .

Kratz has filled in for starting catcher Carlos Ruiz and went 3-for-6 with a double and his fourth home run of the season over the weekend (Aug. 4-5). With Ruiz out as much as six weeks, Kratz could see increased playing time.

“I’ve just been fortunate some balls have been falling in, and I’ve been able to put a couple over the fence, too,” Kratz told MLB.com after Sunday’s game against Arizona. “I’m getting pitches and not swinging at a pitcher’s pitch.”

As of Aug. 7, Kratz was hitting .379 with four doubles, four home runs and nine RBIs.

“He’s been good for us,” said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel to MLB.com. “Kratz has improved his hitting at least 100 percent since I saw him two years ago. He’s definitely done a lot of work.”

“He did a great job,” added Roy Halladay, who picked up a win with Kratz behind the plate. “We’re fortunate. Carlos [Ruiz]��is irreplaceable, but Kratz is very intelligent. He does a great job calling a game. We’re fortunate to have guys like him and Brian Schneider to step in with Carlos missing time.”

At 91����Ƶ, Kratz was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002, claiming an NCAA record for career doubles with 77. During his senior season, he set single-season school records with 72 hits, 48 runs, 25 doubles, 14 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .507 batting average.

He is school’s all-time leader in career hits (220), home runs (33), doubles (77), RBIs (159), runs (147), batting average (.415), slugging percentage (.762) and total bases (404). In addition, Kratz was behind the plate for each pitch during his four-year 91����Ƶ career.

Kratz is scheduled to be inducted into the 91����Ƶ Athletic Hall of Honor during .�� He will be featured at the Hall of Honor Breakfast on Saturday morning, October 13. To register for the breakfast, visit the .

Kratz and his wife Sarah, a 2001 91����Ƶ grad, have two sons.

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