Kron Happy To Stay Near Home At UConn

HEBRON, Ct. - There are so many reasons that Drew Kron loves the idea of making a college commitment to the University of Connecticut.

“I like it a lot that my family will be able to come see me play,” the Xavier High School junior noted. “Two of my good friends are committed there to play baseball so I like that. Just to represent your home state is a great feeling.”

But there was more the fourth-rated 2022 outfielder in New England saw as a plus in choosing UConn.

“They’re building a brand new baseball facility that will be done in December,” Kron related. “The coaching staff has been together 11 years now, the longest lasting group in the country so they buy into the system. Not only is it in my home state, but I will have the best chance of making a College World Series run at UConn.”

Conversation with the Big East Conference school began during the spring quarantine.

“They knew my AAU coach which was definitely a plus,” Kron noted. “But they said they needed to wait until I played games.”

The UConn coaching staff came away impressed with what they witnessed in the 6-1 175-pounder.

“They definitely saw me at the Future Games which was huge for me,” pointed out Kron, who had personal bests in the 60 (6.76) and exit velo (97) while stealing three bases against Team Michigan and making a diving catch versus Team Massachusetts along with a 3-for-3 showing at the plate with two home runs. “I knew it would be a big event for me because of the dead period and I was very happy with my performance. I thought I did well, I tried not to do too much and just be myself. A lot of schools reached out after that.”

North Carolina, Xavier and Quinnipiac all took notice in the 38th-ranked junior in New England, but it was UConn that proved right for Kron.

“My family goes to a lot of football and basketball games there,” noted Kron, who lives 30 minutes from campus in Storrs. “I’ve been to a handful of baseball games.”

The impressive play of Kron at the Future Games eventually led to an offer from UConn.

“Coach (Jim) Penders said he liked my aggressiveness,” Kron related about the head coach of the program. “If I’m not on the base paths diving, I’m in the outfield diving for a ball. He said he’s never seen me swing and miss. I’ve got that leadoff mentality and always hitting line drives.”

Kron took advantage of no spring baseball season to improve in the weight room.

“The biggest thing for me is I’ve definitely gotten stronger,” Kron said. “It’s helped my game with my speed and my arm in the outfield. Just getting stronger has helped get me better.”

It was four years ago that Kron took an interest in the idea of competing at the next level.

“I think I knew I was going to play college baseball since seventh grade,” Kron noted. “My dad told me when I was younger that he thought my future was in baseball. As a kid, football was my main sport but that changed around seventh grade when I started playing AAU baseball.

“My first offer came in baseball freshman year, so I knew that was the way to go,” Kron added. “But I still haven’t ruled out football at UConn. They said it’s a possibility.”

A quarterback on the gridiron in high school, Kron sees the two sports benefitting his play in the other.

“I think the football mentality if you bring it to baseball it helps,” Kron said. “There’s also the constant motion of throwing in each which helps arm strength. I think both sports really help each other out.”

Nobody has meant more to Kron than his father when it comes to baseball.

“My dad has been the biggest influence in my baseball journey,” related Kron, who also credited AAU coach Kevin Rival and high school coach Nick Cerreta with playing key roles in his development and exposure. “He honestly works as hard as me with everything.”

Hard work is something Kron believes he will bring to the table in college.

“I’m constantly working to get better,” noted Kron, a 4.0 student with plans to major in the business field, most likely finance or accounting. “I’m a great teammate to the players and coaches and I’ll work as hard as I can to bring a national championship to Storrs. That’s the main focus I have.”

Knowing a home at UConn is a given in his future brings a sense of relief.

“It was more stressful than I thought it’d be,” Kron admitted. “With the whole pandemic, I didn’t know what was going to happen. At the time I didn’t know if schools would even reach out and offer or if we’d just stay in the talking stage. Once offers started coming in, it was an easy choice after that.”

And a great feeling staying close to home.

“It took the weight off my back knowing where I’m going to go as a junior in high school,” Kron concluded. “There’s no more stress. I’m happy with the decision.”