Erik Kratz is the Yankees’ third catcher, but he moonlights as a knuckleballing reliever. The 40-year-old pitched the eighth inning of a blowout loss against the Red Sox, and he channeled the likes of Phil Niekro and Tim Wakfield, picking up a swing-and-miss on a knuckleball.
A fan favorite since joining the Yankees, Kratz is best known for his fatherly relationship with Deivi García (“I’m so excited to play catch with my son”) and for wearing a Lion King headband. Who knew a third catcher could be so fun?
Our friends at BreakingT took note of his popularity among Yankees fans, and they put together the Knuckle Up shirt for Kratz.