After completing a standout career at Washburn last spring, Riley Krane’s professional baseball career got off to a promising start over the weekend with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League.
Krane went 3 for 7 with a double in his first two games while playing third base for the ThunderBolts, an independent team based in Crestwood, Ill.
“I’m thrilled and excited for the opportunity to play at the next level,” Krane said in a WU news release. “I’m incredibly thankful for the support and opportunity to work with coach (Harley) Douglas, coach (Shawn) Joy and coach (Kenny) Swart as well as all my great Ichabod teammates. There’s a lot of really talented players here and I look forward to the chance of doing whatever I can to help the team be successful.”
The Evergreen, Colo., native started 165 of his 172 games for the Ichabods and posted a .325 career batting average with 156 runs scored, 25 home runs, 139 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases.
Krane, a shortstop at WU, led the Ichabods in batting average (.315), runs (45), hits (63), home runs (13), RBIs (51) and slugging percentage (.595) this past season. He was a three-time All-MIAA selection, earning third-team honors in his junior and senior seasons.
Krane ranks sixth in WU history in hits (219) and is among the top 10 in several other career categories.
“I couldn’t be more excited for Riley,” Douglas said. “This is a great opportunity and well deserved for him as it’s a testament of his hard work and dedication during his time with us. I wish him the very best of luck.”
