Will Klein (baseball)

William Boone Klein (born November 28, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Will Klein
Klein pitching for the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2024
Kansas City Royals – No. 36
Pitcher
Born: (1999-11-28) November 28, 1999
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 28, 2024, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through June 9, 2024)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average6.35
Strikeouts6
Teams

Amateur career

Klein attended Bloomington High School North in Bloomington, Indiana. As a senior in 2017, he pitched only 17+2⁄3 innings after breaking his thumb, but still struck out thirty batters and compiled a 1.98 ERA.[1] Unselected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Eastern Illinois University where he posted a 6.62 ERA over 17+2⁄3 innings as a freshman, a 5.11 ERA over 24+2⁄3 innings as a sophomore, and a 3.33 ERA with 33 strikeouts as a junior in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Professional career

Klein was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round with the 135th overall pick of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[3][4] He signed for $200,000.[5]

Klein made his professional debut in 2021 with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Central.[6] Over 36 relief appearances, he went 7–1 with a 3.20 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and 44 walks over 70+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7] MLB Pipeline named Klein the Royals' Pitching Prospect of the Year following the season's end.[8] He missed the beginning of the 2022 season due to shin splints.[9] He returned to play in mid-May with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League as a member of their starting rotation, but was later moved to the bullpen.[10] Over thirty games (three starts), he went 1–1 with a 10.51 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and 51 walks over 43+2⁄3 innings.[11] He returned to the Naturals to open the 2023 season.[12] In mid-June, he was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A International League.[13] He was selected to represent the Royals at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.[14] Over 49 appearances between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, Klein went 1–5 with a 4.62 ERA, 93 strikeouts, and 39 walks over 64+1⁄3 innings.[15]

On November 14, 2023, the Royals added Klein to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[16] He was optioned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2024 season.[17] On April 25, 2024, Klein was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Alec Marsh.[18]

References
  1. Gordillo, Jim. "North grad Will Klein drafted in 5th round by Royals". The Herald-Times.
  2. MONAHAN, MIKE (May 21, 2020). "Eastern Illinois baseball player Will Klein looks towards MLB draft, projected in first five rounds". JG-TC.com.
  3. "Eastern Illinois University baseball player Will Klein picked in the fifth round, 135th overall by the Kansas City Royals". June 13, 2020.
  4. "Royals wrap 2020 MLB Draft by selecting 2 college pitchers". June 12, 2020.
  5. "Will Klein inks with Royals". The Herald-Times.
  6. "Bandits' Klein has been bringing the heat". September 11, 2021.
  7. "Kansas City Royals prospects: 14 players who could break into big leagues in 2022".
  8. "Fiery Klein KC's Pitching Prospect of the Year". MLB.com.
  9. "Royals' Will Klein: Nursing shin injury". April 4, 2022.
  10. "Royals' Will Klein: Debuts at Double-A". May 16, 2022.
  11. "Will Klein Stats, Fantasy & News".
  12. "Where Royals top prospects are starting 2023 season". MLB.com.
  13. "Will Klein Named to 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game Roster".
  14. "2023 MLB Futures Game rosters: Orioles' Jackson Holliday, Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer among notable names". June 26, 2023.
  15. "Will Klein Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  16. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article281868868.html
  17. "Royals' Will Klein: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  18. "Royals Place Alec Marsh On Injured List, Recall Will Klein For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
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