East County Athlete of the Week: Rhys Klein

The Braden River High baseball team won the District 5A-10 championship with a 6-4 win over Manatee on April 17, but that wouldn’t have happened without a standout effort from Rhys Klein in the district semifinal April 15. Klein pitched six shutout innings in the semifinal against St. Petersburg Hollins that the Pirates won 1-0 in nine innings. He allowed five hits and three walks while striking out eight batters while also going 1-for-2 at the plate. The senior left-handed pitcher, first baseman and outfielder has pitched a team-high 45 innings and owns a 5-2 record, a 2.96 ERA and has struck out 49 batters.

When and why did you start playing baseball?

I started when I was about 4-years-old. It was just the first game that my dad got me into. I went to Little League and I kind of fell in love with it and just kept going.

What’s been the most memorable moment this season?

Probably last Thursday when we won the district championship. That felt really good.

Braden River started out slow, but rallied in the second-half of the year. What changed?

I think we just weren’t on the same wavelength overall as a team, and the more we played, the more our chemistry came together. We figured ourselves out after that.

What’s gone right for you personally this year?

I’ve been able to throw a lot more strikes. That’s probably the biggest thing. I’ve been limiting the walks, and I’ve been able to be more competitive in the zone and to challenge hitters. It’s been paying off.

What was the district semifinal like?

It wasn’t that I had to be perfect, but I really had to be on point. I couldn’t give any free bases, especially later in the game. The pressure in a district game is always there, and winning felt good.

What do you think of your team right now?

I’m feeling great right now. I feel like we have a good chance to go far. We’re getting some of our guys back. Some good pitchers and some good hitters. We had some injuries, like we had Nick Curbelo go out, and we’re getting him back. We’re firing on all cylinders right now.

What’s your favorite baseball memory?

Last year when we beat Venice, that was really nice. They were nationally ranked and No. 2 in the state, and we blew them out, so it felt good.

What’s your favorite meal?

I like poke bowls. There’s a place over here called Rice Bowl. I like getting them there, they’re pretty big. I like tuna, some seaweed salad and carrots.

What’s your favorite TV show or movie?

I don’t really watch TV, but if I had to say one, I’d say Breaking Bad. The plot is good and I stay interested in that.

What’s your go-to warm-up song?

I don’t have a go-to, but I have a playlist that I listen to. It has some rap in it. It helps me focus and lock in to what I need to do. I like Travis Scott.

If you’re not playing baseball, what are you doing?

I like golfing a lot. I mess around with my Volkswagen a little bit.

What’s been your most humbling moment in baseball?

Two years ago I was having some issues with my shoulder, so I had to back off throwing and I had to relearn how to throw correctly with the right workload and all of that so I don’t do it again. There was a lot of inflammation, and tendinitis I think. It would hurt a lot after I was done throwing. 

Who’s your favorite baseball player and why?

I like Shohei Ohtani. He’s just overall really good.

Finish this sentence. Rhys Klein is…

A good lefty.