John Klein - From ICCC Triton to Minnesota Twin
This week’s episode features an upcoming prospect. We don’t mean a guy projected to develop into something special; we mean a diamond in the rough uncut gem. John Klein has only been pitching for four seasons, yet he recently signed with the Minnesota Twins. It all began with a chance to move to the mound in high school, which set his baseball career on a new trajectory.
Like many Minnesota kids, John Klein grew up near Minneapolis and dreamed of being Joe Mauer. He spent his baseball career behind the plate until his coaches asked him if he wanted to toe the rubber going into his junior year of high school. Without any coaching, he was touching the high 80s. His coaches saw something special and told him that this whole pitching thing might turn out well for John if he was willing to do the work.
Klein was drawing interest from small schools as a catcher, and then, late in his high school career, he started to draw some interest as a pitcher or in a split role. Moonlighter Coach Stein from Iowa Central was able to get Klein to make the trip south to Fort Dodge, and once he was on campus, he bought in.
(Listen to Ep 256: Eric Stein)
Iowa Central took the raw talent of a 6’5, 235lbs power pitcher and used analytics and data to shape him into a real pitcher. Working hard in the weight room helped him increase his power. Still, bullpen work with the Rapsodo machine helped him understand how to develop his control and go from a fastball/change-up pitcher to developing a curveball and, later, a slider. Now he is developing his understanding of control and pitch sequencing to become a complete pitcher.
John Klein’s plans went through a few tweaks before becoming a part of the Minnesota Twins system. He was initially heading to KState and the Big 12 but had to alter his course. Next up was a D2 school in Minnesota, but that only lasted about a week before he got the call from the Minnesota Twins and found himself heading to the Florida Complex League for Rookie Ball.
As John Klein starts his professional baseball career, he’ll be the first to admit that seeing his name on the back of a Minnesota Twins jersey is surreal.
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