Darren
Klein

Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 95 in the state. Lean 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame with noticeable added strength. Batted fifth and started at the hot corner before moving over to shortstop later in the game. His actions at third are clean and advanced both in pre-game and in-game settings, looking very comfortable making plays on the move, with a strong and accurate arm that would allow him to stick on the left side of the infield at the next level. Offensively, the right-handed hitter has easy barrel strength with a slightly uphill path and twitch in the swing, barreling a double to the right-center gap in his first at-bat before working a quality at-bat to walk in his final plate appearance. An uncommitted name to follow as we move through the spring who is also a high-level arm for Mascoutah.

Klein pitched a complete game shutout in a 5-0 win over No. 14 Edwardsville. He allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out seven.

Uncommitted. Klein works from a loose ¾ slot with some whip, turning in 4 strong innings with 5 strikeouts while allowing just 1 run on 2 hits. The 6 '1 165lbs right-hander filled it up at a 71% strike rate, & 77% weak contact rate showing above-average command as he attacked hitters with an 85–87 fastball featuring arm-side run, a tight 73–74 slider with late break, and a 77–78 changeup. With a sturdy lower half, and feel to mix all pitches, Klein looks like a key piece of Mascoutah’s rotation heading into his junior season.

RHP, Darren Klein, Mascoutah, 2027 Uncommitted. Durable yet projectable 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, still more room to add strength. The right-hander got the start on the mound for Mascoutah and gave an extremely polished look for his age. He has a repeatable delivery with an athletic leg-lift into a coiled balance point, keeping some bend in his back knee throughout, working in-line down the mound with intent, controlled and balanced. His arm plays from a lower window, clean arm swing and ¾ release. He was able to work his fastball to both sides of the plate, especially his glove-side, also showing the ability to work it up and down in the zone at 82-85 mph. His curveball showed gradual 11/5 shape with the ability to land it for strikes, 71-73 mph. Also featured a changeup in the mid 70s with slight deceleration, playing with fade to his arm-side. Highly polished arm with a bright future ahead.

We got an updated look at RHP Darren Klein (Mascoutah, 2027) and he did not disappoint. An easy and athletic mover down the hill at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds, Klein had feel for all three pitches within his arsenal. His fastball sat 85-86 mph with run, while being consistently around the zone from a true ¾ slot. He had a high feel for the zone (80% strikes) with his slider that worked 73-75 mph with sharp 10/4 action. Klein would round things out with a 79-81 mph changeup that had tumble and fade to it, making for a potent third offering. Klein will be the No. 2 arm for Mascoutah this spring.

Lean, lanky 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame. Entered in relief and hurled three scoreless innings in a 1-0 game to secure the Mascoutah win, throwing 21-of-28 pitches for strikes. Simple, low-effort delivery, polished repeat for age. Clean out the hand, arm played loose from a high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 81 mph, pitched in the upper-70s, should take considerable velocity jumps over the next two years. Spun a 66-68 mph breaking ball with slight horizontal action to it, landed it for strikes. Present gradual spin, should shape into more of a swing-and-miss pitch as he starts to throw it harder. A name-to-know freshman from the Metro East in the state’s 2027 class.

Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame. The right-hander impressed out of the ‘pen with 2.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits and striking out two. Klein is a loose mover and pounded the zone with a running fastball that worked mostly in the upper-70s, grabbing a handful of 80s throughout the day. To pair off the fastball he went to a gradual 11/5 curveball in the mid-60s and fading changeup at 70 mph. Impressive feel to pitch for his age with more in the tank.