Texas Rangers draft Gahanna's Klein in 30th round
Phil Klein, a 2007 Gahanna Lincoln High School graduate, has been selected by the Texas Rangers in the 30th round (924th pick overall) of the Major League Baseball draft on June 7.
Klein, a 22-year-old, 6-foot-7, 230-pound right-handed pitcher recently completed his collegiate career at Youngstown State University. He posted a 13-12 record and 5.21 ERA in 59 appearances, which included 40 starts.
As a senior this spring, he made a single-season school-record 15 starts and went 5-5 with a 3.61 ERA in 92 1/3 innings. His 105 strikeouts is the second-highest single-season total in school history. Klein, a finance major, earned second-team all-Horizon League honors.
He is one of three central Ohio natives who have had their names called through the first two days of the draft, which concludes with rounds 31-50 on Wednesday, June 8.
Jason King, 21, a junior third baseman out of Kansas State and a 2007 Dublin Jerome graduate, was taken in the fourth round by the Detroit Tigers with the 137th pick overall.
R.L. Eisenbach, 23, a 2006 Newark Catholic graduate who as a senior this spring led Faulkner University to its first NAIA World Series, was selected in the 23rd round by the San Diego Padres with the 713th pick.
