Matt Klinker Drafted By Cincinnati Reds In 15th Round

June 8, 2007

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman pitcher Matt Klinker has been selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 15th round of the 2007 Major League Draft, it was announced today.

Klinker, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound right hander, was the 15th pick of the 15th round and 469th overall draft selection.

The West Chester, Ohio, product graduated from Furman last Saturday with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration. He was a 2007 selection to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and was twice named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

In 2007 he posted a 5-6 record and 4.57 earned run average. In a staff leading 86 2/3 innings of work, he surrendered 85 hits and 26 walks while recording 70 strikeouts. Opponents hit .254 against him. He was named SoCon Pitcher-of-the-Week on May 21 on the strength of a complete game, three-hit performance in Furman's 4-2 win over The Citadel in which he threw only 88 pitches and faced just 29 batters, two above the minimum.

For his career he posted a 16-15 record and 4.53 ERA. His 16 victories rank eighth in school history, and his 223 career strikeouts is the fifth highest total by a Paladin. During his Paladin tenure Klinker helped Furman to a pair of 30-win seasons, including a 2005 campaign that saw Furman win the Southern Conference Tournament championship en route to the program's fifth NCAA Tournament appearance. He went 6-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 2006 in keying Furman to a 32-23 season and third place SoCon regular season finish.

Klinker is the third Furman player to be drafted since 2005 and fifth Paladin draftee since 2002.

Furman currently has two products playing professional baseball, including right handed relief pitcher Tom Mastny `03 of the Cleveland Indians and third baseman Matthew Betsill `05 of the Minnesota Twins' Class A Florida State League affiliate Fort Myers Miracle.