Ruan Klink

Ruan William Klink (Weenie)

• Bats Left, Throws Left

• Born April 9, 1976

Biographical Information

Ruan Klink pitched for the South African national team.

Klink made one appearance for South Africa when they won the 1999 All Africa Games. Relieving Darryn Smith in the 6th inning against Zimbabwe, he allowed three hits and one run, striking out two in one inning to end the mercy rule win. It was the first earned run South Africa had allowed in 11 innings in the Games. South Africa won the Gold.

In the 2001 Baseball World Cup, he was South Africa's lone left-hander and fared well. Relieving Darren Colby with a 5-0 deficit and two outs in the 4th against Team USA, he allowed only one hit and one walk in 2 1/3 shutout innings against a lineup featuring Carl Crawford, Orlando Hudson and Josh Bard among others. Replacing Mark Van Noordwyk with one out and a 8-2 deficit against Taiwan, he retired five of six batters before Braydon Bartle closed it out. Klink thus had only two hits and one walk in four shutout innings for a team with a 6.79 composite ERA.

Klink played for PSV in the Netherlands in 2002. In the 2002 Haarlem Baseball Week, he pitched for South Africa again, tossing 2 2/3 shutout innings (2 H, 1 BB, 3 K). He was still active in South African leagues in 2011 at least.

Sources

• 1999 All Africa Games
• Old IBAF website
• 2002 Haarlem Baseball Week
• Notice about Klink pitching in the 2002 Hoofdklasse
• South African baseball news from 2011