Philadelphia selects Klocke No. 951 overall

Jim Klocke had to wait until the final day of the major league baseball draft to be selected.

But once Wednesday's session rolled around, Klocke didn't have to wait long.

Klocke, Southeast Missouri State's All-American catcher, was among the first players picked as the three-day draft concluded with rounds 31 through 50.

Klocke was taken with the 26th pick of the 31st round, No. 951 overall, by the Philadelphia Phillies.

"It's exciting," Klocke said.

Klocke, who recently completed a record-setting four-year career at Southeast, was drafted 15 rounds higher than last year when his hometown St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the 46th round.

Klocke elected to return to school for his senior season. He went on to earn first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference honors for the third straight time and was voted OVC male athlete of the year.

"Coming back to school was a great decision," said Klocke, also an Academic All-American. "I learned a lot and feel like I improved as a player.

"And I got my degree. That was one of the biggest things, to finish up my school."

Klocke said entering the draft he had no idea where he might be taken so not being selected Tuesday made him more nervous than disappointed.

"It was just kind of nervewracking," he said. "I had some teams calling me and I thought I might get picked up, but I really didn't know."

Wednesday's draft session began at 11 a.m. and Klocke was picked shortly after that.

"I was watching the draft tracker online," Klocke said about how he found out he had been selected. "I was relieved, that was the main thing."

Klocke spoke with Philadelphia officials shortly after being drafted. He said he was told he would be leaving in about a week to join one of the Phillies' minor league teams, either their Rookie League squad in Florida or their short season Class A club in Williamsport, Pa.

"I'm looking forward to getting going," said Klocke, who ranks at or near the top on many of Southeast's career and single-season records lists.

Klocke said he is both excited and nervous as he embarks on a professional baseball career that he hopes eventually will lead to the major leagues.

"It's a little bit of both, exciting and nervous at the same time," he said. "It's going to be something different that I haven't done before, but I'm ready for it."

Klocke was the only OVC player selected Wednesday after 12 from the conference were drafted Tuesday during rounds 2 through 30. The 13 players drafted is a record for the OVC.