Max Krakowiak

Classroom

Krakowiak maintains a 3.28 GPA in finance with a minor in economics and is on pace to graduate this spring.  He has made the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s honor roll and has also been honored at the Athletic Department’s “Breakfast for Champions,” which recognizes all Fordham student-athletes with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Krakowiak believes he may have a professional future in baseball, but if he’s not drafted he plans to attend graduate school.

Character

Krakowiak has become one of the team leaders, not only motivating through words, but even more so through his actions. “Max has great character and poise on the field,” Fordham head coach Nick Restaino said. “It’s like having a coach on the field, making him a great choice as a captain this year. ” After a non-descript freshman season, Krakowiak soldiered through injury as a sophomore and provided a spark for the team at a crucial point in the season. “Max truly wants this team to be successful and that makes him happier than any personal achievement he accomplishes,” Fordham pitching coach Trevor Brown said. “He has tremendous work ethic from his diet and nutrition, to lifting and sleep, and to his work on and off the field.  He has a great overall makeup and will be looked at heavily this season to continue his baseball career at the next level.”

Community

While at Fordham, Krakowiak has served as camp instructor at the Complete Baseball Player Academy, as well as a referee at the Special Olympics held in New Haven, Connecticut. He has also worked at soup kitchens in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and taken part in Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to homebound adults. This past Christmas, Krakowiak was a primary factor in the baseball team hosting a Christmas Party at Fordham Bedford Children’s Center, supplying food and gifts for the children’s after-school holiday party.

Competition

The 2010 campaign was a breakout one for Krakowiak, who posted a 7-4 record with a 4.10 ERA, 69 strikeouts and three complete games. He was the workhorse on the staff, throwing 98.2 total innings, which is the fourth-most in Fordham’s 150-year history of baseball.  He was also a perfect 7-0 in Atlantic 10 play and earned second-team All-A10 honors. For this season, Max was selected by his peers as one of the team’s tri-captains, showing the faith he has instilled in his teammates.  In addition, as a part of Collegiate Baseball Insider.com’s Atlantic 10 preview, the coaches of the Atlantic 10 were surveyed about the top players in the league.  Max was listed as one of the top three starting pitchers in the league, as well as the starting pitcher you least wanted to face.