Millersville, Pa. - Millersville red-shirt sophomore
Derek Kline was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 34th round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft Wednesday afternoon, becoming just the fifth player in school history to be drafted.
Kline, three years removed from his high school graduation, was draft eligible. He will have the opportunity to accept an offer from the Tigers or return for his junior year of eligibility at Millersville. The Tigers selected him with the ninth pick of the round and 1,020th overall.
"The Tigers selected Derek because he has a great pitching frame and a great arm--an unpolished arm," said Head Coach Jon Shehan. "At the same time, most guys that start out pitching don't throw a lot of strikes. Derek was able to go out there and through a lot of strikes right away, which is rare.
"The draft process is difficult," said Shehan. "The hardest part for Derek is over, and I congrat him for the achievement."
Kline is the first Marauder drafted since outfielder Matt Knox in 2001. Shehan was the last Marauder to sign a professional contract. In 2004, Shehan was signed by the Atlanta Braves and played two years in the organization.
Kline made his mark mostly as a first baseman over the last two years with the Marauders, but emerged as the team's most dominant starting pitcher in 2009. Despite taking the mound for the first time in his career, he impressed scouts with his arm.
"From the level of interest he's received since his last start against Kutztown I was not surprised he was drafted," said Shehan. "It's great for the program. We haven't had a player drafted since 2001. It proves that we are on the right track with player development. It can only help recruiting, and it shows that we have one of the best four players in the PSAC right now."
As of Kline's selection, five players from the PSAC had been picked. Joining him were Kutztown's Darin Gorski, Slippery Rock's Matt Adams and Jamie Walczak and Steve Grife of Mercyhurst.
In 2009, Kline posted a 2.87 ERA with a 3-3 record in 10 games and six starts, striking out 31 and walking just 10 in 37.2 innings of action. He also turned in three complete games. Teams managed just a .206 batting average against him. In threw at least five innings in each of his final five starts and struck out 23 and walked just seven in those games.
With the bat, Kline led the Marauders in batting average (.397), hits (66), doubles (17), slugging percentage (.595) and on base percentage (.449). His 33 RBIs and five home runs ranked second on the team as well.
At season's end, he was selected All-PSAC East First Team, Daktronics All-Atlantic Region Second Team and NWBCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team as a utility player.
