Transfer catcher Brendan Kleiman commits to Arkansas
Eastern Michigan senior transfer catcher Brendan Kleiman has committed to Arkansas, he announced Monday.
A 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Olney, Maryland, Kleiman slashed .289/.385/.367 with 48 hits, seven doubles, two homers, 26 RBIs, 20 walks and 33 strikeouts.
The right-hander hit for a .363 average during the 2024 season with 10 extra-base hits, 18 walks and only 15 punchouts.
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Ranked as the No. 735 overall transfer in the portal, according to 64Analytics, Kleiman fills a depth role behind starting catcher Ryder Helfrick.
Arkansas now has eight portal newcomers following Kleiman’s commitment. For more updates on the Diamond Hogs’ offseason, be sure to follow along at The Trough premium message board.
Kleiman’s Bio:
EMU: 2024: Appeared in 34 games for the Eagles starting 33 of them…Tallied 14 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games with 27 RBI in 124 at-bats to go along with a .964 OPS…Had a .363 season batting average, the second best on the team…Collected a season-high five RBI against Kent State, April 6, and four hits against Ohio and Kent State, April 13, April 6…Had a reached base streak of 18 consecutive games…Delivered a season-high 12 putouts against Bowling Green, May 10….Caught a season-high two runners stealing against BGSU, May 11…Had the second-most putouts on the team with 207…Caught 14 runners stealing out of 81 SBA…Was involved in two double plays…Joined the EMU baseball program as an incoming recruit.
FREDERICK C.C.: Spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as a Cougar where his team made two Junior College World Series appearances and were two-time Region 20 Champions…In 58 total games, scored 48 runs, compiled 49 hits, registered 10 doubles, two triples and two home runs, equaling out to 14 extra-base hits off a .350 batting average and .996 OPS…Recorded 31 RBI…Walked 35 times while striking out 21…Also stole four bases…As a defender, racked up 24 assist and a .991 fielding percentage…Caught nine runners attempting to steal a base…Had a perfect fielding percentage in the 2022 season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Sherwood High School where he earned three letters and served as a captain for one season on the Warriors’ baseball team…Trained as a catcher under head coach Sean Davis…Led the team to a 15-0 record as a senior while batting .350 with a .481 OBP…Sent one ball over the fence while driving in eight runs…Named to the Brooks Robinson Maryland All-State…Selected to the Maryland All-State Third Team as well as the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches (MSABC) All-State Team.
PERSONAL:Full name: Brendan Adam Kleiman…Son to Walter and Michelle Kleiman…Has a brother, Jordan, and two sisters, Morgan and Delaney…A native of Olney, Maryland…Aspires to be the CEO of a company…Major: Communications.
