Penn State’s Paxton Kling watches a home run he hit against Pitt this season. Kling is expected to be selected in the MLB amateur draft Sunday or Monday. Courtesy photo

Kling was a well-regarded high school prospect with loud but raw tools coming out of central Pennsylvania in 2022, but he removed his name from consideration ahead of the Draft and headed to Louisiana State.

After hitting just .250 with a 25.1 percent strikeout rate over two years, he entered the portal and came back home, transferring to Penn State, about an hour north of his hometown.

He’s done well in the Big Ten using those tools more consistently, though some questions still remain.

Kling, who could have been drafted as a sophomore in 2024, looks the part as a strong, athletic outfielder who can do a lot of things well on the diamond. The right-handed hitter has been making better swing decisions this year, which has helped him make better in-zone contact and tap into his plus raw power more consistently.

He’s always drawn walks, but while his strikeout rate is down some, there are scouts who worry about the swing-and-miss in his game.

In addition to getting to his power, Kling has been using his plus speed more consistently this year, reaching double digits in both steals and homers.

There’s also belief he can stick in center field with a strong arm, making the overall package more intriguing. A team that thinks he can make enough contact at the next level will consider him in the top five rounds.