Phillies: Erik Kratz receives ‘Philly experience’ as fan

Area native and former Philadelphia Phillies backup catcher Erik Kratz — who appeared in his final game nearly a year ago at age 40 — recently got what was likely his first chance to watch a game in the Citizens Bank Park stands for the first time in a while.

A game in which featured two of his former teams — the Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays — Kratz was in attendance behind the home dugout for the 2008 World Series rivals’ Tuesday series opener, which resulted in a 3-1 victory in favor of the American League East club.

But, as former Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia host Leslie Gudel shared on social media, the now-41-year-old received the “full Philly experience” — what appears to be a rowdy fan sitting directly behind him.

Former fan-favorite Phillies catcher Erik Kratz was a fan at Tuesday’s opener

This fan was seen on television throughout the game when left-handed hitters came to the plate. Kratz later noted that the fan “loves his Phillies and Rhys Hoskins,” but not finishing his adult beverages, as most of them landed on the now-retired catcher’s shoes.

Kratz played for nine different teams over the course of his 11-year career, with the Phillies (2011-13, 2015) being his longest stint with a single team. Across 132 games and 404 plate appearances in red pinstripes as the backup to Carlos Ruiz, Kratz slashed .230/.290/.429 with 19 doubles, 18 home runs, 54 RBI, 30 walks, and 83 strikeouts. Behind the plate, Kratz committed only two errors spanning 832 chances. He also fielded 14 perfect innings at first base during the 2015 season.

Kratz’s final season in the majors, 2020, featured 16 games as a member of Aaron Boone’s New York Yankees. The veteran slashed an impressive .321/.367/.393. What Kratz plans to do in the next chapter of his life is not yet known, although it appears he is willing to enter broadcasting if a national network wants to hire him for postseason coverage.