It didn’t take long for former Northwestern quarterback Nick Kreinbrink to find his way back into a Wildcats’ uniform.
Kreinbrink, who quit the football team April 3, suited up for Wednesday’s baseball game against Wisconsin-Parkside. The move was a surprise even to Kreinbrink, who said April 6 that he didn’t expect to play baseball for the Cats until next season.
In his freshman year, Kreinbrink posted a 2-2 record with a 3.50 ERA as a pitcher. He left the team before the start of last season to concentrate on football.
After quitting football, Kreinbrink met with baseball coach Paul Stevens, who told the junior that returning to baseball as soon as possible would benefit both Kreinbrink and his teammates.
Still, Kreinbrink admitted his arm was nowhere near baseball shape and that it could take three weeks for him to feel comfortable taking the mound again.
“I really don’t expect to see any playing time (this season),” Kreinbrink said. “I’ll just try to get my arm into shape in time for summer ball.”
Stevens wouldn’t talk to Kreinbrink about the possibility of returning to baseball until he first discussed his football future with coach Randy Walker and Athletic Director Rick Taylor.
“We agreed that we wouldn’t talk anything about baseball until he could see the people he needed to see,” Stevens said.
Walker and Kreinbrink parted on good terms, with the coach telling his former starter that he didn’t see a future for him as an NU quarterback.
Kreinbrink started five games at quarterback for the Cats in 1999, throwing for 774 yards and four touchdowns. After Notre Dame transfer Zak Kustok became eligible midway through the season, Kreinbrink lost his starting spot and took snaps in spot relief through the remainder of the season.
By concentrating solely on baseball, Kreinbrink will have a better chance of rediscovering his dormant pitching skills, Stevens said. The baseball coach is also thrilled at adding a lefthanded pitcher to his staff.
“It was hard to get a grasp (on Kreinbrink’s abilities) because you’re going from fall football to winter where you’ve missed everything, and then you’re trying to squeeze some pitching in,” Stevens said.
Kreinbrink, who rooms with four baseball players, said he wants to acquaint himself with the freshmen on the team and play his arm back into shape in time for summer leagues away from NU.
Fall ball with NU will give Kreinbrink an additional opportunity to prepare for next season, when he hopes his arm is ready for the rigors of pitching.
“I’m thrilled,” Stevens said. “I will tell you that with the time that we have now, and his experience that he can pick up in the summer and the fall, he may have some glory days ahead of him in the spring of 2001.”
