Wayne Krenchicki

Wayne Richard Krenchicki (born September 17, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors from 1979 until 1986. He is currently the manager of the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League. He played college baseball at the University of Miami.

Krenchicki was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles with the 7th pick in the first round of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut with the Orioles in June 1979, then spending parts of the next two seasons with them. On August 7, 1981, he was sent to the minor leagues so the Orioles could call up prospect Cal Ripken Jr. Krenchicki said, "I didn't expect it to happen. I just don't care to be going back to Rochester. But they want to look at Cal... They still have to pay me. I guess I'll just stay in a hotel and go fishing every day."

Prior to the 1982 season, Krenchicki was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Paul Moskau. That season, he backed up Johnny Bench at third base for the Reds, batting .283. Midway through 1983, Krenchicki was traded to the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Pat Underwood. His contract was sold back to the Reds after the season.

Over the next two seasons, Krenchicki returned to being the Reds backup at third base, behind Nick Esasky in 1984 and Buddy Bell in 1985. He was traded to the Montreal Expos the following offseason, and in 1986 he played mostly at first base for the Expos, backing up Andrés Galarraga. After becoming a free agent at the end of the season, Krenchicki did not play in the majors again.

In 1989 and 1990, Krenchicki played in the Senior Professional Baseball Association. After the league folded, he was brought in by the Milwaukee Brewers organization. From 1991 until 1994, Krenchicki served as a minor league manager for the Brewers, in the Arizona Fall League in 1991, then for the Beloit Brewers of the Midwest League for the next three seasons.

Since 1995, Krenchicki has been managing in various independent minor leagues. In 2007, he was hired by the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League. That season, he won his first league championship. He also managed for Newark in 2008. On December 16, 2008, he was named the manager of the Evansville Otters.