GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Former Furman and Carolina Mudcats pitcher Matt Klinker has been named a 2010 Southern League All-Star, it has been announced.

Klinker, who compiled a 5-4 record with a 1.75 ERA prior to being promoted to Triple A Louisville on Thursday, was one of five Mudcats named to the Southern League North All-Sar squad that will compete at the double A league’s annual mid-season classic on July 12 at Huntsville’s Joe Davis Stadium.

In 82 1/3 inning of work for Carolina this summer, the former Paladin right-hander surrendered only 63 hits and 17 walks while notching 71 strikeouts.  Opponents hit just .211 against him.

Klinker, a 15th round draft selection of the Cincinnati Reds in 2007, is in his fourth season of professional baseball, having made stops in Billings, Dayton, Sarasota, Carolina, and Louisville.  He sports a 23-19 career minor league record and 3.50 ERA

The West Chester, Ohio, product graduated from Furman in 2007 with a degree in business administration and was twice named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

For his career he posted a 16-15 record and 4.53 ERA. His 16 victories rank eighth in school history, and his 223 career strikeouts is the sixth highest total by a Paladin. During his Paladin tenure Klinker helped Furman to a pair of 30-win seasons, including a 2005 campaign that saw Furman win the SoCon Tournament championship en route to the program’s fifth NCAA Tournament appearance. He went 6-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 2006 in keying Furman to a 32-23 season and third place SoCon regular season finish.