John Kruk-Age, Height, College, Ethnicity, School, Profession, Net Worth, Bio

Who is John Kruk?

John Kruk is a former Major League Baseball (MBL) player turned sports broadcaster and analyst, known for his unconventional physique, dynamic personality, and sharp commentary. He began his professional baseball career with the San Diego Padres and later played for the Philadelphia Phillies before retiring from baseball in 1995.

Since then, Kruk has transitioned to broadcasting, where he has become a popular figure in the industry.

Birthday and Zodiac

Education

Physical Stats

Net Worth

Family and Relationship                  

Social Media

Biography Timeline

John Kruk is a retired American baseball player and sports commentator widely known for his successful Major League Baseball (MLB) career and distinctive batting stance. He played for three teams during his 10-year career as a first baseman and outfielder. After retiring in 1995, he became a popular sports commentator on ESPN.

• February 9, 1961: John Martin Kruk was born in Charleston, West Virginia.
• 1979: Graduated from Keyser High School in Keyser, West Virginia.
• 1981: Started playing baseball at Allegany College of Maryland, where he won the JuCo World Series and was named a JuCo All-American.
• 1982: Transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he played for two seasons.
• 1983: He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the third round of the MLB draft.
• 1986: He made his MLB debut with the Padres on April 7.
• 1989: He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he spent the next five seasons and became a fan favourite. He was selected to three All-Star Games during his time with the Phillies.
• 1993: Helped the Phillies win the National League pennant, although they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series.
• 1994: He was traded to the Chicago White Sox, but the season was cut short due to a players’s strike.
• 1995: Signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for one more season before announcing his retirement from baseball.
• 2001: Joined ESPN as a baseball analyst and quickly became a fan favourite for his candid and humorous commentary.
• 2017: Left ESPN to join NBC Sports Philadelphia as a commentator for Phillies games.
• 2020: He was diagnosed with prostate cancer but successfully underwent treatment and continued to work as a commentator during his recovery.
• Present: Remains an active commentator for NBC Sports Philadelphia and continues to be a beloved figure in baseball.

Early Life and Education: Birth of a Prodigy

He was born “John Martin Kruk” on February 9, 1961, in Charleston, West Virginia, to parents Donald and Betty. Not much is known about his parents’ occupations, but Kurk has mentioned in interviews that his father was a hardworking man with multiple jobs to support their family. He grew up with one younger sibling, a brother named Joe. He has spoken fondly of his childhood, recalling memories of playing baseball with his brother and friends in the neighbourhood.

He attended Keyser High School in Keyser, West Virginia, where he played baseball and football. He was an outstanding athlete, and his skills on the diamond caught the attention of several college scouts. After graduating high school, He received a scholarship to play baseball at Potomac State College of West Virginia University. He played for two years before transferring to Allegany Community College in Maryland.

He later transferred again to play for the University of South Alabama, where he was a standout player and helped lead the team to the College World Series.

Professional Career

Began his professional baseball career in 1981 when the San Diego Padres drafted him. He played for the Padres until 1989 when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He quickly became a fan favourite in Philadelphia and played for the Phillies until 1994. During his career, was a three-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove Award in 1991.

He was known for his unconventional physique and was often described as overweight, but he was a skilled hitter and finished his career with a .300 batting average. He retired from baseball in 1995 and became a popular broadcaster and analyst.

Married Life

He has been married to his wife, Melissa, since 2000, and the couple had two children together: Kyle and Kiera. However, the marriage eventually ended in divorce. The couple has been together for over 20 years and is known to have a solid and loving relationship.

Net Worth?

His net worth is around $4 million. This is mainly due to his successful career as a professional baseball player, where he earned a significant income and garnered a large fan base. also transitioned to broadcasting and has worked for several networks, including ESPN, NBC Sports, and MLB Network.

Despite his financial success, He is known for his down-to-earth personality and remains a beloved figure in the baseball community.

Twitter

He has an official Twitter account with the handle @JohnKruk, where he is known to be active during the baseball season, frequently posting updates and commentary on games.

His Twitter content generally reflects his love for baseball and engaging personality, adorned by 208,200 fans and followers on the platform.

Trivia

• John Kurk had an unconventional batting stance known as the “Kruk Strut.”
• Once stole home plate during a game in 1991.
• He appeared in an episode of “Married… with Children.”
• His number 29 jersey was retired by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004.
• He famously quipped, “I’m not an athlete, I’m a baseball player.”   

Frequently Asked Questions