STATEN ISLAND, NY- The stage was set. He had a chance to be the hero but ultimately came up short striking out swinging with the bases packed and two outs in the home ninth in a recent Staten Island Yankee 3-1 loss to Oneonta. As the traditional Friday night fireworks bombarded the sky, there sat Ray Kruml in the dugout thinking the tough at bat through as he took in the lighting show.

Before he went back into the locker room, skipper Pat McMahon pulled the first-year Baby Bomber center fielder aside telling him how much he admired his approach. He still put together a quality at bat working the count full before swinging and missing at a Lester Oliveros outside heater to end it which was why McMahon was reinforcing the positives despite the end result.

“He got me down 0-2 right away. 1-2. You know. It was a battle. Caught me chasing a pitch that might’ve been outside. I tip my cap to him. It was a good pitch,” the 22 year-old Lisle, Illinois native later expressed.

Kruml hasn’t gotten beat often while batting leadoff the majority of his 19 games hitting a solid .318 (21-for-66) with eight RBI’s, 12 runs scored and eight stolen bases providing the kind of spark needed from a No.1 hitter. Thus far, he’s made the necessary adjustments from college to the pros.

“It’s a little different,” he noted. “They just tell me to keep my same approach. Every ballgame. Ground balls. Line drives. Stuff like that. That’s always nice to hear. I can just keep doing what I’ve been doing. The coaches have helped me a lot helping me make the adjustment from college to pro ball.”

Of batting leadoff which is something he also did in college helping set the table, he said, “It’s a little tough facing pitchers for the first time if I don’t know anything about them. But I’ll try to do my best to give the guys a a good report when I get back to the dugout.”

Selected by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, the University of South Alabama product who never missed a game in two years while posting a .350 average with an impressive on-base percentage of .421 while pacing the Sun Belt with 31 stolen bases has adjusted well to pro ball. It’s his first time in New York but it hasn’t fazed him one bit.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “Especially lately. I think we’ve won 10 of our last 12 games. Something like that. It’s been fun. A lot of fun.”

One thing which hasn’t gone unnoticed is the kind of support Kruml and his new teammates have been getting. In fact, last Friday’s game was the sixth sellout already- one better than they managed all of last year.

“There’s been great support. We got great fans. It’s always nice playing on a Friday night with the fireworks. Everybody comes out and has a good time. It’s a real good atmosphere.”

Not only has he been able to enjoy playing in front of big crowds but also got a chance along with the rest of the team on a rare off day last Tuesday to visit legendary Yankee Stadium and take in the House That Ruth Built one time before it’s replaced by the new Stadium.

“That was awesome. Went to old Yankee Stadium and afterwards toured that along with the new Yankee Stadium show us all how everything’s being built. Just the foundation and everything’s up right now. And you could see how big the Stadium is up. It’s going to be real nice.”

“It gives you a little bit more motivation I guess. A new building. Billion dollar stadium. So, it’s a little extra incentive to push a little harder and reach our goals.”

As for being drafted and getting the chance to wear Yankee Pinstripes, the solid defensive center fielder who makes things happen with his speed replied emphatically, “It was unbelievable. Great feeling that day. Just sitting around waiting. My name popped up by the New York Yankees. It was a very happy day for me and my family.”

“I was just out playing some video games. Just checking the computer and then all of a sudden saw my name pop up with the Yankees. I was real excited. A few seconds later, I got a phone call.”

His family celebrated like you’d expect with a little home cooking.

“Yeah. My parents gave me a little barbecue. A lot of my parents’ friends are Boston fans. So put the Boston jerseys on and gave me some crap for it. But it was all in good fun.”

While he’s playing for the more well known New York baseball team, that surprisingly wasn’t the case for Kruml who grew up in the Windy City rooting for the sister White Sox.

“I had to trade the black and white pinstripes for the navy and white. It’s a good trade though,” he quipped with a big grin.

Kruml had good success in college going from a junior college All-American to All-Second Team in the Sun Belt while starring for the Jaguars.

“It was a great experience playing two years at South Alabama. Great bunch of coaches. Great team. Had a lot of fun there,” he said. “It was a great opportunity and a great experience.”

“I played pretty well. It was fun. We had a good team. We just couldn’t put it altogether. Just didn’t have enough good pitching, good defense and great offense.”

One of five players from South Alabama selected, Kruml noted a little of the school’s recent draft history which produced the likes of outfielders Juan Pierre, Luis Gonzalez and Adam Lind.

“The previous year, there was two. I think the year before that, there was four. There’s a lot of guys that get drafted and a lot of guys who got good opportunities. Hopefully, they can excel real well.”

One notable difference from staying healthy and not missing a game is that now he has a little friendly competition with center fielder Melky Mesa, who also is getting his share of playing time. Kruml doesn’t seem to mind at all and understands the situation.

“I normally get my at bats. He gets his at bats. We get along real well. He’s a great guy. So we help each other out doing different things whether it’s outfield work or hitting. It’s a mutual respect even though we’re battling for the same position. But it’s a lot of fun.”

One key area which Kruml has adjusted well to is wooden bats. That can sometimes be a burden for drafted college players going from aluminum to wood but thus far hasn’t slowed down the center fielder at the plate.

“Every summer, I played in summer leagues where it’s all wood bats. I mean I’m not 100 percent used to it but I’m pretty used to it.”

As for how he views himself, Kruml assessed:

“Runs well. I guess a contact guy. Tries to draw walks. Will bunt. Stuff like that.”

As for who he tries to pattern himself after, the South Alabama alum stayed true to a player he admires.

“Like a Juan Pierre, Grady Sizemore type. Speedy centerfielders. … Certain guys like that Juan Pierre likes to bunt. Likes to put pressure on defenses. I try to look at him and try to play the way he plays.” 

So far. So good.