Mullens and Klein Named First Team All-WCL
Michael Klein pitching for the Drifters against the Portland Pickles on June 20th. (Photo by Alyssa Garcia)
SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, the West Coast League announced that Springfield Drifters infielder Cooper Mullens and left-handed pitcher Michael Klein have been named First Team All-WCL. The pair join Kaden Alberghini (Seattle, 2024) as the only Drifters to be named First Team All-WCL.
Mullens, a redshirt junior at the University of Michigan, had a historic season in Springfield after returning to the club for a fourth season. The second baseman led the team and was sixth in the WCL with a .347 batting average and was second on the squad with 34 RBIs. The Marist High School graduate finished with 60 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, one home run and 23 walks while scoring 40 runs in 44 games to lead the team and finish eighth in the league. Mullens’ .347 average and 60 hits broke and tied the Drifters single season records, respectively. Throughout his four seasons in Springfield, Mullens holds the Drifters’ career records for games played (150), at-bats (481), hits (142), RBIs (78) and walks (80). This is Mullens’ second All-WCL honor after being named to the All-WCL Second Team in 2025.
Klein, who returned to Springfield for a second season in 2026, was lights out on the mound this summer for the Drifters. Across 18 appearances, Klein only allowed six earned runs across 31.0 innings pitched for a stellar 1.74 ERA. The Rogers State reliever was named a WCL All-Star and was the winning pitcher in the South’s 5-4 win over the North in Victoria, British Columbia, on July 15th. The Fresno, California, native led the team with 43 strikeouts, good for eighth in the WCL and third among relievers. Throughout the month of June, Klein did not allow an earned run across 12 appearances and 18.1 innings. The southpaw struck out 29 batters and walked just six during that stretch. On the season, Klein finished with six saves, which tied him with Alberghini for most saves in a single season in Drifters history. Klein also finished with one save last season to match Alberghini’s record of seven saves in a career.
To view the complete 2026 All-West Coast League teams, click here.
Below is a list of Springfield Drifters to be named to a WCL All-League Team:
2025: Cooper Mullens (Michigan, Second Team), Jack Brooks (Oregon, Honorable Mention)
2024: Kaden Alberghini (Seattle, First Team), Brady Baltus (New Mexico State, Second Team), Kedren Kinzie (Hawaii, Honorable Mention)
2023: John Over (Linfield, Honorable Mention)
2022: Theo Millas (Central Arizona, Honorable Mention)