RailCats left fielder Adam Klein is going out on top. After a seven-year professional career, the California native announced that he is retiring from professional baseball after the 2013 season.
2013 was a banner season for Adam. Klein helped lead the RailCats to their third championship in franchise history and was named Championship Series MVP for his performance against the Wichita Wingnuts. In the series, Klein went 8-for-15 (.533) with five RBI, five runs schored two doubles and four walks.
During the regular season, Klein led the RailCats in runs, walks, stolen bases and on-base percentage. He hit .288 in 96 games and recorded the second most hits on the team with 105. Klein's 78 walks led the American Association and his .416 on-base percentage ranked fifth amongst league leaders.
Klein finished 2013 by reaching in 37 straight home games (June 20 through the end of the season) and boasted the longest on-base streak by a RailCat this season. Klein reached in 33 straight games from July 4 to August 9 by way of a hit, walk or hit by pitch. He also walked in 16 straight ball games from June 16 to July 3.
Adam finishes his RailCats career with his name all over the RailCats record books. At the time of his retirement, Klein ranks seventh in games played with 385, third in batting average with a .293 mark, seventh in hits with 436, third in runs with 268, second in stolen bases with 97 and leads the RailCats all-time in walks, 268, and on-base percentage; .409.
In addition, Adam holds the team's single-season record in walks with 82 during the 2012 season and games played in one season; playing in all 100 in 2010.
Adam was originially drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 48th round of the 2007 draft out of Cal-State Los Angelos. He spent a pair of years playing in the Athletics affiliation, reaching double-A Midland in 2008. Klein played the 2009 season with the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League before joining the RailCats in 2010.
In each of Adam's first two years with the RailCats he hit precisely .299. In each of his four years with the 'Cats he eclipsed 100 hits. Klein and Mike Massaro are the only players in team history to have at least four seasons with 100 hits, Massaro has done it in each of his five years with the team.
Klein finishes his playing career with over 600 games played, 441 runs and a career .408 on-base percentage.