SPRINGFIELD – Michael Klein earned himself an extra bus ride this summer.
The left-handed relief pitcher is Springfield’s lone representative in the West Coast League All-Star Game on Wednesday night in Victoria, B.C.. Klein has a 1.59 ERA in 28 1/3 innings pitched during a league-high 17 appearances while ranking second in the league with six saves and third with 38 strikeouts.
“It’s great to make the All-Star Game because it means I’ve had a good summer,” Klein said. “All the work that I have put in and the time I invested in myself, to go out and put the Drifters name and my family name out there is really cool.
Klein, a Fresno, Calif. native, is spending his second summer in Springfield after going 3-3 with a 3.53 ERA and one save in 19 games, including three starts, last season. He struck out 35 in 43 1/3 innings while allowing one run or less in 14 appearances.
“It is nice to be back because you know the coaches so you don’t have to worry about that, but every team is new so you get to meet new guys,” Klein said. “It is the same game whether it is this year or last year, today or tomorrow, it is the same game every day.”
After spending three years at Fresno City College, Klein signed with Rogers State in Claremore, Okla., last summer while pitching for the Drifters.
“I was committed to another school but they reached out to me and the offer was good,” Klein said. “It felt like home so I went out there and had a great year.”
Klein went 3-2 with a 3.82 ERA and four saves in 19 games for the Hillcats, who went 40-15 and reached the NCAA Div. II regionals. That was the second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and first 40-win season since 2012 for Rogers State, which tied the school record with a 19-game winning streak to reach No. 5 in the national rankings.
“I have been on winning teams before so it was nice to keep winning there,” Klein said. “The community out there was so good and they love Rogers State so being able to have a big season for them was great to show people we were better than many people thought we would be. Hopefully, this year we can get to the next level and make it past regionals this time.”
Finding his role
The 6-foot, 220-pound Klein will return to Rogers State next month to prepare for his senior season when he will likely be the closer out of the bullpen. That is a role that Klein has filled for the Drifters this summer.
“In high school I would start, but I also closed a lot of games in relief,” he said.
“Closing games is something I have done since I was young. The only difference is you are able to go all-out for one inning whereas when you start you are able to go five or six innings. I love coming out of the bullpen and I do better when the pressure is on. At Rogers, guys would mess with me and say that I do better under pressure. If I go out there with a six-run lead or one-run lead, I am a lot better with a one-run lead. I love the pressure so keep the pressure on.”
Klein, who graduated from Central East High School, did not move far to begin his college career at Fresno City College. He was a two-way player as a freshman and played in the outfield before taking a redshirt year due to a shoulder injury. When he returned for his sophomore season, he was strictly a pitcher.
Klein was 1-2 with eight saves and a 1.73 ERA in two seasons with the Rams while striking out 54 in 41 2/3 innings.
Fresno City coach Mitch Karraker is a former Oregon catcher who has sent a few players to the Drifters each year.
“At Fresno, you are expected to win so the culture is to be ready to go from Day One,” Klein said. “Mitch got us going the right way and then my coaches here (Jeff Lyle and Dean Stiles) have helped me be a better man, not just in baseball, but in life.”
Klein took a step up in competition at Rogers State and credits his first summer in Springfield with preparing him for the season.
“I got to face better talent here and JuCo guys are good, but it is not the same as Division II,” Klein said. “Everyone can hit, that is why they are in the lineup.”
Klein has been even better in his second season with the Drifters.
“The biggest thing is coach Stiles taught me some stuff and I got my head in the right spot,” Klein said. “I am throwing strikes and getting ahead and letting my defense work.”
Klein will have company when he returns to Rogers State as his sister, Amara, will play softball for the Hillcats. Amara Klein was a second-team, all-conference selection last year as a sophomore catcher at Fresno City College.
“My sister and I are 15 months apart so we always grew up playing catch together, doing everything together,” Klein said. “We’ve always gone to the same school for the most part so it will be cool for our family to come watch both of us at Rogers State. The softball and baseball field are next to each other so it will be cool to watch her play and hopefully we get a lot of friends and family out to visit and have some fun.”
