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Indianapolis Indians

Kratz Selected to Postseason All-Star Team

September 3, 2009 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Indians catcher Erik Kratz has been selected as a member of the International League's 2009 Postseason All-Star Team. The Tribe backstop was also voted to the IL's Midseason All-Star team earlier this season.

Kratz was selected among the International League's top players for the catcher position as he currently leads all IL catchers with 11 home runs and 42 RBI this season and has collected eight runs, five home runs and 13 RBI over his last 14 games.

The Tribe backstop also continues to play a large role in the final outcome of many of the Indians' contests as currently this season Indianapolis is 44-39 when Kratz starts behind the plate, 17-4 when he collects two hits or more, 7-3 when he drives in two runs or more and 10-1 when he launches a longball.

The 29-year-old also represented Indianapolis as a member of the IL's Midseason All-Star team where he won the Top Star Award. In that contest on July 17 against the Pacific Coast League, Kratz went 2-for-2 with a walk, a double and a two-run homer to lead the IL over the PCL 6-5.

Since the All-Star break, Kratz has provided steady production, hitting .284 with 14 runs, six homers and 19 RBI in 28 games. The Indians backstop just wrapped up his best month of the season in which he hit .329 with nine runs, nine doubles, five home runs and 16 RBI in 19 games during August.

Kratz currently holds a .274 average in 88 total games so far this season, including a career-high six stolen bases, while he has also tied his career-high of 11 home runs. He has also performed well defensively as he currently ranks among the top five International League catchers having thrown out 31% of the runners who attempted to steal against him.

The right handed slugger is in his first season within the Pittsburgh Pirates system after he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 and spent his previous seven years within their organization. Kratz was the only Indians' player recognized in a vote by the league's managers, coaches, media and club representatives.

The Indians' catcher and his Tribe teammates will finish out the season with just three more home games at Victory Field against Louisville and then two more road games also against the Bats. Tickets for the final three games at Victory Field this season are available by going online at www.IndyIndians.com, visiting the Victory Field Box Office at 501 W. Maryland Street or calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.

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