Randolph grad Krauss embracing new community

Sometimes, Chadwick Tromp wonders why he even bothers asking Conor Krauss what he wants to throw. The righty from Randolph always has the same answer.

“I want to throw cheese,” Krauss tells Tromp, his catcher with Dayton, an A-ball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

A closer whose fastball has touched 97 miles per hour, Krauss can definitely bring the heat. Tromp and Dayton pitching coach Tom Browning have been trying to keep him calm and confident, “to trust his stuff.”

“He combines the fun with the hard work,” Tromp said. “When he gets on the mound, it’s like a switch. Instead of being fun, he starts asking me serious questions.”

It all starts with Browning and a walkie-talkie in the dugout. The coach will either say, “Start tossing” or “Get hot.” The latter is an immediate command, and Krauss is “jumping on the mound and getting after it as fast you can.”

After that, it feels instinctual. He’ll come into the game, throw a lot of fastballs and cutters, “and the next thing you know, the game’s over.” Krauss often doesn’t feel like he’s got time to think about what he’s doing until afterward.

“I like being on the spot. You’ve got to come in and get it done,” said Krauss, a 6-foot-5 22-year-old righty who was drafted in the 20th round out of Seton Hall University.

“I like coming in for an inning or two, and the next day coming in again. … Every day, you’re planning like you’re going to pitch. You just go about the day like you’re playing, and if your name gets called, you’re ready to go.”

Krauss didn’t pitch regularly until high school, and split time starting and relieving at Seton Hall. But he has embraced the late-inning pressure. He also enjoys the fan support in Dayton – Fifth Third Field has 7,230 seats but attendance regularly tops 8,000 – though he confessed he hasn’t quite perfected his autograph.

He is 2-0 with six saves and a 2.76 ERA in 45 2/3 innings for the Dragons. He has struck out 35 batters and walked 17, holding batters to a .263 average.

For Krauss, “being able to repeat his delivery and be a little more consistent” is the key, according to Reds director of player development Jeff Graupe. “Conor’s right on track.”

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/