Ex-Falcon Kjeldgaard Protected by Brewers

Centerville -- Former Indian Hills Community College baseball player Brock Kjeldgaard was recently added to the 40-man roster of the Milwaukee Brewers to insure that Kjeldgaard was not eligible to be taken in next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

In that draft, major league teams can select players who are not on other teams’ 40-man rosters if those players have been in their organization for at least four years. Kjeldgaard’s strong showing in two different leagues in 2011 apparently excited the Brewers about his potential.

The 25-year old Kjeldgaard was drafted by Milwaukee after two seasons at Indian Hills. He was taken in the 34th round of MLB’s 2006 amateur draft and began his pro career as a pitcher. But in 2008, the Brewers switched Kjeldgaard to first base, a move that has paid dividends for the four different minor league clubs he has played for over the past four seasons.

Kjeldgaard, a native of London, Ontario, Canada, slammed 24 homers and drove in 76 runs while splitting the past year between High-A Brevard County and Double-A Huntsville.

He got off to a sizzling start with 18 home runs in 65 games for Brevard County in the Florida State League, earning a promotion to the Double-A Southern League. Kjeldgaard still ended the year tied for 7th in homers in the Florida State League despite his limited time there.

Just before he moved up to Double-A, Kjeldgaard was named Player of the Week in the Florida State League three straight weeks.

At Indian Hills, Kjeldgaard was an All-Region player as a pitcher and also played first base and the outfield.