Oregon State signee Kleinschmit named ABCA Pitcher of the Year

Oregon State baseball commit Ethan Kleinschmit was named a 2024 National Pitcher of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and baseball equipment manufacturer Rawlings on Monday, June 24.

Kleinschmit spent his 2024 collegiate baseball season playing with Linn-Benton Community College. For Linn Benton in 2024, Kleinschmit more than earned his place as one of the National Pitchers of the Year.

The left-hander made 13 starts, tossing 78.1 total innings and accumulating an astonishing 1.03 ERA. Kleinschmit recorded a .70 WHIP for Linn-Benton, but allowed just nine earned runs all season. His strikeout numbers were even more impressive, as he fanned 120 batters and averaged 13.79 punch outs per nine innings pitched.

Kleinschmit is a local product, having played for Kennedy High School in Mount Angel, Oregon. Kleinschmit was the 2023 Tri-River Conference player of the year and the Class 2A Player of the Year to go along with twice being selected as a 2A All-State honoree.

He’s beginning to position himself as a diamond in the rough find for Oregon State, as he was not listed among Perfect Game’s player rankings in the state of Oregon for his 2023 recruiting class.

Kleinschmit pitches from a prototypical high three-quarters release point at 6-foot-2 and has some funk, featuring a big whippy delivery. His arsenal includes a high-80s to low-90s four seam fastball with some arm side run as well as a slurve with a lot of movement to it.

He’s also told reporters for the Corvallis Knights that he’s begun mixing in a changeup that could be utilized as an offering to right-handers.

While the production he recorded at Linn-Benton is likely not translatable to the Division I stage, Kleinschmit projects like a reliever or swing-starter for the Beavers in 2025. He’s also a much-needed left-handed presence in the bullpen, with Nelson Keljo expected to break into the starting rotation and Tyler Mejia being the only other southpaw on the roster.

Complete list of 2024 ABCA/Rawlings National Pitchers of the Year

NCAA Div. I: Hagen Smith, Arkansas

NCAA Div. II: Skylar Gonzalez, Tampa (Fla.)

NCAA Div. III: Sayers Collins, East Texas Baptist

NAIA: Darien Smith, Southeastern (Fla.)

NJCAA Div. I: Robert Fortenberry, Weatherford (Texas)

NJCAA Div. II: Blake Lobell, LSU Eunice

NJCAA Div. III: Jayden Voelker, Northern Essex (Mass.)

Pacific Association Division: Ethan Kleinschmit, Linn-Benton (Ore.)

High School: Cam Caminiti, Saguaro (Ariz.)