Former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Klingenbeck, a Cincinnati native, passed away unexpectedly on May 20, 2025, at the age of 54. Klingenbeck played parts of four MLB seasons in the 1990s with the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, and his hometown Cincinnati Reds
Born on February 3, 1971, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Klingenbeck graduated from Oak Hills High School in 1989. He went on to pitch for Allegany College of Maryland and Ohio State University, where he achieved notable success. In 1991, he also played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham A’s of the Cape Cod Baseball League .
Klingenbeck was selected by the Orioles in the 5th round of the 1992 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut on June 2, 1994, earning a win against the Detroit Tigers. In 1995, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for pitcher Scott Erickson. He later joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1997 and made his final MLB appearance on June 23, 1998 .
After his baseball career, Klingenbeck owned a sports bar named Hot Wings Sports Café in Cincinnati, which has since closed. His nephew, Kyle Klingenbeck, followed in his footsteps, pitching in college for Northern Kentucky University and Austin Peay
The cause of Klingenbeck’s death has not been publicly disclosed. His passing has been mourned by the baseball community and fans alike .
