Stephen Klein Pegged as NCBWA South Region Player of the Week

LAKELAND, Fla. – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) has announced the NCBWA South Region Players of the Week for the opening weekend of the 2024 season. Week one's winners include Stephen Klein, from the University of Tampa, named South Region Player of the Week, and Saint Leo's Luke Lashutka the South Region Pitcher of the Week.

Klein, a graduate student from Metairie, Louisiana, led Tampa to a 3-0 week at the 2024 Houston Winter Invitational in Minute Maid Par. The first baseman recorded a .625/.813/.750 slash line, reaching base with five hits in eight at-bats, six walks, and two HBP from the #3 spot in Tampa's lineup. Klein accounted for 14 Spartan runs, driving in five and scoring nine times, in wins over Arkansas Tech (17-5), No. 7 Millersville (13-1), and No. 5 Central Missouri (16-4). Klein's top game of the week came in against Arkansas Tech, where he went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, three walks, four runs scored, and two runs batted in. Defensively, the Metairie, Louisiana native had 23 putouts in 23 chances and turned a double play.

Lashutka was named the Pitcher of the Week following his first win of the 2024 season. The Fairview Park, Ohio native started Saint Leo's second ballgame of the season, earning the win in a 3-1 victory against Auburn-Montgomery. The senior righty tossed 7.0 innings, allowing four hits, no walks, and no runs. Lashutka rang up eight batters, including four looking, as he held opposing hitters to a .167 average.

Klein and Lashutka move on to the NCBWA National Player of the Week ballot to be announced on Wednesday, Feb. 7.