Kreke started at third base and batted sixth in the lineup Wednesday for Myrtle Beach's home game against the Lynchburg Hillcats (Cincinnati Reds affiliate). He singled in his first, third and fourth at-bats, driving in a run with a two-out hit in the eighth inning. In the field, he snagged a line drive and doubled off a runner at second base to end the sixth inning. Lynchburg won the game, 5-3.
Kreke was selected by Atlanta in the 13th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, one of three Panthers picked last summer. Of the three, he is the first to receive an in-season promotion in Minor League Baseball.
He was chosen as the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year while helping lead EIU to the regular-season conference title. Last fall, he helped the Danville Braves win the Appalachian League (Rookie Ball) title.
Kreke began this season playing for the Rome Braves of the Class A South Atlantic League. He was batting .248 with 14 doubles, 32 RBIs and 24 walks while playing shortstop and third base for Rome at the time of his promotion.
