Coach Tim Neiman welcomes former big leaguer Erik Kratz to Straight Lines.

A Christopher Dock High School and Eastern Mennonite University product, Erik didn't reach the majors until age 30 after grinding through the minors for a decade, ultimately suiting up for ten different big league organizations across an eleven-year MLB career that included a 2014 All-Star nod and a World Series run with the Royals. He opens up about the faith and partnership with his wife that carried him through years of uncertainty, the toll constant relocation took on his family — including the surreal night he learned mid-shower he'd been traded from the Blue Jays to Kansas City with just hours to pack up his household — and why family stability, not talent, ultimately ended his playing career.

Erik also shares behind-the-scenes stories from the clubhouse, including watching a struggling Christian Yelich turn in one of the greatest second-half stretches he's ever seen, and makes the case for chronically underrated catcher Carlos Ruiz, who caught three no-hitters and a perfect game without ever making an All-Star team. He closes with a powerful message on patience for young players chasing instant results: every day is one step forward, even when it doesn't feel like it.

A must-listen for players and parents navigating the grind of player development, anyone who's faced a sudden career upheaval, and fans who want the real story behind a decade-plus of bouncing between big league clubhouses.


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Tim Neiman is a 14-time Coach of the Year and Hall of Fame baseball coach with 36 years at DeSales University, 868 career wins, and 13 players who’ve gone pro. From NCAA tournaments to the College World Series, scouting for MLB teams, and broadcasting AAA baseball, Tim’s career is built on winning cultures and inspiring people to reach their full potential.