Kentucky Baseball Transfer Stephen Klein Ruled Ineligible

Reigning Gold Glover and incoming Kentucky Baseball transfer Stephen Klein (Samford) will not be suiting up for coach Nick Mingione and the Wildcats next season after all, as it was revealed on Thursday night that he was not granted an extra year of NCAA eligibility, contrary to what he had been told two years earlier.

Klein’s full statement is below:

“Thank you Coach Mingione and Kentucky Baseball for believing in me this summer during the recruiting process. I want to thank God, my family, coach Joe and my other coaches for all the help through this unforeseen situation. In early 2021, I was told that I had another year of eligibility. Unfortunately, I now have to announce that I was blindsided and the NCAA has taken away that last year of eligibility in D1. I was told this is due to a case by case ‘unwritten’ transfer rule which wasn’t stated till after 2021 from NJCAA to NCAA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, with a heavy heart, I’m looking forward to what the next chapter of opportunities have in store for me outside of college ball. No matter what is ahead, I know this is all part of Gods plan. Definitely more to come… #9.”

All in Gods hands… pic.twitter.com/mkrgfETOFu

— StephenKleinJr (@stephen_kleinjr) August 18, 2023

Klein originally committed to the ‘Cats back on July 17th after two seasons at Samford. He batted .309/.452/.512 with 67 hits, 16 doubles, two triples and eight home runs with 41 runs batted in during the 2023 season.

The Metairie, Louisiana native was one of the headliners of Kentucky’s stellar incoming transfer class, which also features INF Nick Lopez (USC), 1B Ryan Nicholson (Cincinnati), INF Mitchell Daly (Texas), RHP Robert Hogan (Texas A&M), LHP Dominic Niman (Central Connecticut), RHP Trey Pooser (Charleston), and OF Ty Crittenberger (Western Kentucky). Nicholson, who was expected to be Kentucky’s opening-day designated hitter, will now likely slide back over to first base with Klein no longer eligible.

Klein becomes the second member of Kentucky’s transfer class to fail to suit up for the ‘Cats (due to no fault of his own), as transfer 1B Trey Paige (Delaware State) was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 17th round of the 2023 MLB Draft and would eventually sign, wiping out his NCAA eligibility. Best of luck to Klein on whatever is next for him.