By Jamie Baker
Staff Writer
VISALIA, Calif. — There’s no doubt former Patrick Henry three-sport standout Marc Krauss is doing a little California dreamin’ these days.
That’s because he’s living the dream of being a professional baseball player with the Visalia Rawhide of the Class A California League.
Krauss has had a terrific season for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ high Class A affiliate.
In 84 games this season, Krauss is the team’s top hitter with a .324 average to go along with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs.
“I’m having a blast. All the guys on the team, we have a great team, good camaraderie. These guys making coming out to the ballpark every day a lot of fun,” said Krauss in an interview just prior to the Fourth of July holiday.
“Even though I am a long way from home and people can’t quite follow me as much as they want to being out here on the West Coast, I still know I have a lot of supporters back home and I’m trying to make them proud of me.”
But the transition from playing college baseball at Ohio University to playing in the professional ranks was more challenging than one might think.
After three solid seasons at Ohio University, Krauss got his feet wet for Arizona’s rookie league team in South Bend, Ind. last season. He hit .304 with a pair of homers and 17 RBI in 32 games in his rookie season before being sidelined for the season with an ankle injury that required surgery.
“It was pretty difficult. There were a lot of different things I had to do to adjust from college life to a life where baseball is now my job,” said Krauss, a second-round draft pick by the Diamondbacks and the 64th pick overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball amateur draft.
“It’s a different lifestyle. You don’t have to worry about going to class, you can put all of your energy into getting better at baseball.
“Making the adjustment to a wooden bat and playing every day was also tough. It
was just something I had to work myself into and feel my way around. I just kind of got thrown in there which was fun. I was able to learn on the run and that was the best way to do it,” he added.
Then, there was making the adjustment to living far from home for Krauss, who had never even visited California before being assigned to Visalia when the Diamondbacks spring training camp concluded.
Living in Visalia, a city of 115,000 on the edge of the Sierra Nevada foothills, is much different than life in rural Northwest Ohio where Krauss grew up.
“It is different living here everything seems to be a little more expensive although were in the part of California, that’s kind of like what you would call not really California. It kind of reminds me of home. There is a lot of agriculture around and we actually have the Red Barn out in right-center field,” Krauss said.
“In a way, it reminds me of home back out in the country. Everyone is really nice and supportive, it feels like home out here.”
Krauss, who is listed as a top-five prospect in the Diamondbacks organization on several websites, got off to a red hot start to the season in April before cooling off considerably in May.
Since becoming a pro, Krauss has learned to keep the game’s highs and lows in proper perspective.
“Baseball is one of those games where it’s streaky. Our hitting coach and all of the coaches I’ve talked to have told me that I’m going to go through hot streaks and slumps. You just have to ride those hot streaks as long as you can and end the slumps as quick as you can,” said the 2009 Mid American Conference Player of the Year.
“Baseball is a battle because you have to prepare yourself to play your best every day. I’ve been hitting the ball well lately and that makes it a lot of fun.”
Before the year is out he may just get the call up to Class AA Mobile, Ala., or the Diamondbacks’ Class AAA affiliate at Reno, Nev..
Whereever Krauss ends up this season, he knows there are plenty of area baseball fans watching his progress and hoping to see him in the Majors one day soon.
I’m just thankful for all the support I get. I talk to my family and my grandparents back in Findlay and they tell me everyone is following me and wondering how I am doing and it’s awesome,“ Krauss said.
“It makes things easier here knowing that everyone back home is pulling for me.”
On the Net: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t516
Baker: 419-427-8409,
jamiebaker@thecourier.com
Staff Writer
VISALIA, Calif. — There’s no doubt former Patrick Henry three-sport standout Marc Krauss is doing a little California dreamin’ these days.
That’s because he’s living the dream of being a professional baseball player with the Visalia Rawhide of the Class A California League.
Krauss has had a terrific season for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ high Class A affiliate.
In 84 games this season, Krauss is the team’s top hitter with a .324 average to go along with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs.
“I’m having a blast. All the guys on the team, we have a great team, good camaraderie. These guys making coming out to the ballpark every day a lot of fun,” said Krauss in an interview just prior to the Fourth of July holiday.
“Even though I am a long way from home and people can’t quite follow me as much as they want to being out here on the West Coast, I still know I have a lot of supporters back home and I’m trying to make them proud of me.”
But the transition from playing college baseball at Ohio University to playing in the professional ranks was more challenging than one might think.
After three solid seasons at Ohio University, Krauss got his feet wet for Arizona’s rookie league team in South Bend, Ind. last season. He hit .304 with a pair of homers and 17 RBI in 32 games in his rookie season before being sidelined for the season with an ankle injury that required surgery.
“It was pretty difficult. There were a lot of different things I had to do to adjust from college life to a life where baseball is now my job,” said Krauss, a second-round draft pick by the Diamondbacks and the 64th pick overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball amateur draft.
“It’s a different lifestyle. You don’t have to worry about going to class, you can put all of your energy into getting better at baseball.
“Making the adjustment to a wooden bat and playing every day was also tough. It
Then, there was making the adjustment to living far from home for Krauss, who had never even visited California before being assigned to Visalia when the Diamondbacks spring training camp concluded.
Living in Visalia, a city of 115,000 on the edge of the Sierra Nevada foothills, is much different than life in rural Northwest Ohio where Krauss grew up.
“It is different living here everything seems to be a little more expensive although were in the part of California, that’s kind of like what you would call not really California. It kind of reminds me of home. There is a lot of agriculture around and we actually have the Red Barn out in right-center field,” Krauss said.
“In a way, it reminds me of home back out in the country. Everyone is really nice and supportive, it feels like home out here.”
Krauss, who is listed as a top-five prospect in the Diamondbacks organization on several websites, got off to a red hot start to the season in April before cooling off considerably in May.
Since becoming a pro, Krauss has learned to keep the game’s highs and lows in proper perspective.
“Baseball is one of those games where it’s streaky. Our hitting coach and all of the coaches I’ve talked to have told me that I’m going to go through hot streaks and slumps. You just have to ride those hot streaks as long as you can and end the slumps as quick as you can,” said the 2009 Mid American Conference Player of the Year.
“Baseball is a battle because you have to prepare yourself to play your best every day. I’ve been hitting the ball well lately and that makes it a lot of fun.”
Before the year is out he may just get the call up to Class AA Mobile, Ala., or the Diamondbacks’ Class AAA affiliate at Reno, Nev..
Whereever Krauss ends up this season, he knows there are plenty of area baseball fans watching his progress and hoping to see him in the Majors one day soon.
I’m just thankful for all the support I get. I talk to my family and my grandparents back in Findlay and they tell me everyone is following me and wondering how I am doing and it’s awesome,“ Krauss said.
“It makes things easier here knowing that everyone back home is pulling for me.”
On the Net: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t516
Baker: 419-427-8409,
jamiebaker@thecourier.com
I still know I have a lot of supporters back home and I’m trying to make them proud of me.”
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