Van Stratten is well-decorated from his seven professional seasons in the Kansas City Royals organization. In 2009, he was tabbed as Player of the Year for Class A Burlington and as a Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star. He was the Royals’ Arizona Fall League Player of the Year in 2006. Van Stratten has also been a part of two league championships.
Van Stratten spent the bulk of 2012 with Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, where he has been for 198 of his 518 pro games. Combined with a stint in High-A Wilmington, where he hit .312 with 10 doubles, one home run and 27 RBI. He has a career .289 average with 107 doubles, 25 triples and 80 stolen bases.
The Royals drafted Van Stratten in the 10th round of the 2006 draft out of St. Louis Community College. He is a native of St Louis.