Kravitz, a University of Kansas alum and an employee at Benefit Express, has always had a love for baseball. Ever since his T-Ball days, he has always played the game with heart and toughness.
But he is always his biggest critic. "I should be doing a lot better" he says.
Kravitz had played throughout high school and made the varsity team his junior year at Stevenson High School in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Unfortunately, his talents were only seen in one area and Kravitz was used as a base stealer more than an every-day player. Although he always felt he played at a high level, Kravitz stayed out of the spotlight of stirring up drama and always put the letters on the front of the jersey before the one's on the back. When asked if he addressed his coaches about the matter, he simply said, "Nope. Any opportunity I got I took full advantage of." Like a true team player would.
When asked if it was frustrating, he said, "Imagine being told your senior year that your services would be better put to use running track when all your life you play baseball." So Kravitz did what coach told him to do; pinch-run for the pitcher and catcher his junior year, and give up on his longtime sport to run track his senior year.
The 6'0, 190 pound outfielder considers base stealing an art, however. "(It's) the thrill of taking what most can't. You have to beat two people in order to get it; the pitcher and the catcher. And it becomes an intimidation factor and you start getting in the pitcher's head...Its a good laugh when you know you've gotten into a pitcher's and catcher's head."
Kravitz is currently hitting .388 with a slugging percentage of .592. He leads the National League in stolen bases with 24, ten more than the next behind him. He has cracked the top ten in doubles, triples, and walks as well.
So how could all the benching and being put into games in such a minor role have such a little impact on a young high school athlete? Didn't it motivate you at all? "No" he said.
Then what is your motivation? He answered, "I hate losing. And I love playing the game."
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