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Sports

Ray Kruml Working Way Up Through Minor Leagues

Former St. Francis standout now plays with Double-A Trenton Thunder.

An internet search of big-league players with ties to Lisle or Wheaton produces three names: Sy Sutcliffe, Ollie Voigt and Don Bollweg, who each list Wheaton as their birthplace.

The youngest of the three, Bollweg, played his final game on May 10, 1955.

Never has a Lisle-born player reached baseball's highest level, a fact Ray Kruml is vying to change, one stolen base at a time. The athletic pride of St. Francis High School, in Wheaton, Kruml is working his way from obscurity to the New York Yankees radar.

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"I went to a small Catholic school," said Kruml, now an outfielder and leadoff hitter for the Double-A Trenton Thunder. "There were probably only about 700 kids. That's big in some places, but not compared to some of the schools that are around my area. My school wasn't really known for sports."

Kruml played outfield for the Spartans baseball team and wide receiver/running back and whatever else was needed for football. Both teams were coached by Brian Wojtun during Kruml's time at the school.

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"He had the five tools," said Wojtun, who now teaches and coaches at Glenbard West High School. "Speed was his biggest asset and he made great contact. There was an eliteness in his game. He wanted to be the best player he could be. The thing is, I don't think he realized how good he was. It's exciting for us to see the steps he's made and will continue to make."

After going undrafted as a high-school senior, the 2003 All-State, Class "A" honoree continued his dream at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, and eventually earned a scholarship to the University of South Alabama, alma mater to current Major Leaguers Juan Pierre (Chicago White Sox), Adam Lind (Toronto Blue Jays) and David Freese (St. Louis Cardinals).

He hit .350 during his second year with the Jaguars, and led the Sun Belt Conference with 31 stolen bases. A team finally took a chance, when the Yankees selected him in the 11th round of the 2008 draft.

"It was a long road, but I wanted to keep trying to get noticed," he said. "I'm still sticking with it."

He progressed through Low-A Charleston and High-A Tampa in 2009-10, and began this season with Trenton, batting ninth. When Austin Krum was promoted to Triple-A, Kruml inherited the leadoff spot, and has performed. He's batting .278 with a .342 on-base percentage in the No. 1 position, raising his overall average to .272/.324 through June 6.

"I'm just playing my game," he said. "I'm not going to drive the ball out of the ballpark very often, so I'm trying to get on base and cause havoc that way. I can score from first on a ball in the gap. I can steal bases and get in scoring position for the guys behind me to drive me in."

Kruml did that on June 1, lining a single to start the game, dashing to third on another single and scoring on an infield groundout. The speedy runner has stolen 22 bases in 28 attempts after a 15-for-15 start. In his career, he has stolen 100 bases in 123 attempts, an 81 percent success rate.

"It's just been a lot of work throughout the years, working with coaches and managers to pick up things," Kruml said. "I'm looking to pick up tidbits from pitchers, anything to try to get an edge. Timing is a big thing and you've got to know when you're beat. If the pitcher's too fast [to the plate], you can't steal on him."

Kruml also can't steal when he's not on first base, and he's always trying to improve in that area, especially his walk rate. He has just 15 walks in 195 at-bats. Better pitch selection and perhaps a few bunt base hits should lift his on-base average accordingly.

"Hopefully as the season goes on, I can get the walks up and the punch outs down and try to even them out," he said. "But I'm not going up there looking to walk. I'm trying to get on base any way I can, whether it's a hit, an error or anything. Walks will come as long as I'm patient and lay off bad pitches."

Kruml has already had a handful of bunt hits this season. Even if he just shows bunt, opposing defenders will have to respect the possibility.

"If the opportunity presents itself and the third baseman is playing back, I have no problem bunting," Kruml said. "Maybe if I show bunt, I'll draw them in and be able to shoot it past them at first or third. It's definitely a weapon I can use to try to shift the infield and try to open up some holes."

He's already opened some eyes this season, as his game is starting to resemble that of Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner. In an organization in need of developing outfielders, Kruml may be receiving his best chance to advance.

"It's not a surprise to see him develop," Wojtun said. "He was a good high-school player who had potential, but that's a scary word if you don't live up to it. No matter what happens with Ray, there's no question in my mind that he'll reach his potential. He works that hard."

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