ERIK KRATZ

6/15/80; '02 29th (Toronto); Eastern Mennonite Univ.
R/R; 6-4, 240

Level
BA
OBP
SA
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
2002 R+ (Tor)
.275
.318
.394
142
5
0
4
6
32
0
1
2003 AA (Tor)
.000
.000
.000
4
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2003 A (Tor)
.316
.409
.474
19
3
0
0
1
7
0
0
2003 A- (Tor)
.312
.411
.503
157
15
0
5
21
31
0
1
2004 AA (Tor)
.333
.500
.444
9
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
2004 A+ (Tor)
.286
.327
.429
49
4
0
1
2
16
0
0
2004 A- (Tor)
.308
.317
.462
39
6
0
0
1
8
0
0
2005 AA (Tor)
.205
.283
.353
292
10
0
11
27
86
2
0
2006 AAA (Tor)
.250
.319
.375
40
2
0
1
5
4
0
0
2006 AA (Tor)
.225
.290
.333
258
10
0
6
16
54
1
0
2007 AAA (Tor)
.214
.273
.366
112
2
0
5
8
28
0
1
2007 AA (Tor)
.250
.317
.506
160
15
1
8
12
33
0
0
2008 AAA (Tor)
.234
.287
.510
145
11
1
9
9
33
1
0
2008 AA (Tor)
.245
.347
.500
102
5
0
7
13
26
2
0
2009 AAA
.273
.337
.470
319
30
0
11
31
72
7
0

Toronto obviously drafted Kratz as an organizational catcher.  He ended up getting a fair amount of playing time at the upper levels, though, probably because he's always shown decent power.  He hasn't generally gotten on base much and has had mostly poor BB and K numbers.  The Pirates signed him for 2009.  Initially, he backed up Robinzon Diaz at Indianapolis, but after Ryan Doumit got hurt he became the primary catcher in AAA.  He more or less stayed in that role even after Diaz returned, because the Pirates used Diaz in a utility role.  Kratz had a good year, improving his plate discipline and hitting a lot of doubles. He threw out 30% of opposing base stealers.  He re-signed with the Pirates for 2010 at some point around mid-September, which is unusually early.  He'll provide good depth in AAA and, with Robinzon Diaz being designated for assignment, it's not unlikely he could appear in Pittsburgh.

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