Will Klein (baseball)
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Will Klein
|image = Will Klein (53624265245) (cropped).jpg
|caption = Klein pitching for the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2024
|team = Seattle Mariners
|number = 35
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|11|28}}
|birth_place = Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = April 28
|debutyear = 2024
|debutteam = Kansas City Royals
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = 2024 season
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 1–0
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 11.05
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 7
|teams =
- Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2024}})
- Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2024}})
}}
William Boone Klein (born November 28, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics.
Amateur career
Klein attended Bloomington High School North in Bloomington, Indiana. As a senior in 2017, he pitched only {{fraction|17|2|3}} innings after breaking his thumb, but still struck out thirty batters and compiled a 1.98 ERA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/06/12/north-grad-will-klein-drafted-in-5th-round-by-royals/43839691/|title=North grad Will Klein drafted in 5th round by Royals|first=Jim|last=Gordillo|website=The Herald-Times}} Unselected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Eastern Illinois University where he posted a 6.62 ERA over {{fraction|17|2|3}} innings as a freshman, a 5.11 ERA over {{fraction|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.{{Cite web|url=https://jg-tc.com/sports/college/eastern/eastern-illinois-baseball-player-will-klein-looks-towards-mlb-draft-projected-in-first-five-rounds/article_aa980c2d-687d-50e2-8301-6fe9832d3c89.html|title=Eastern Illinois baseball player Will Klein looks towards MLB draft, projected in first five rounds|first=MIKE |last=MONAHAN|website=JG-TC.com|date=May 21, 2020 }}
Professional career
=Kansas City Royals=
Klein was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round with the 135th overall pick of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://jg-tc.com/sports/baseball/eastern-illinois-univeristy-baseball-player-will-klein-picked-in-the-fifth-round-135th-overall-by/article_b97cc1f1-1e60-5b2c-9af9-2de08b2ebd04.html|title = Eastern Illinois University baseball player Will Klein picked in the fifth round, 135th overall by the Kansas City Royals| date=June 13, 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/royals-wrap-2020-mlb-draft-by-selecting-2-college-pitchers|title = Royals wrap 2020 MLB Draft by selecting 2 college pitchers|date = June 12, 2020}} He signed for $200,000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/06/24/will-klein-inks-with-royals/43828327/|title = Will Klein inks with Royals| newspaper=The Herald-Times }}
Klein made his professional debut in 2021 with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Central.{{Cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/midwest-league/bandits-klein-has-been-bringing-the-heat/article_740cf968-fee9-5efc-957d-8e8bdfdcaee6.html|title = Bandits' Klein has been bringing the heat| date=September 11, 2021 }} Over 36 relief appearances, he went 7–1 with a 3.20 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and 44 walks over {{fraction|70|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/3067826/2022/01/13/kansas-city-royals-prospects-14-players-who-could-break-into-big-leagues-in-2022/|title = Kansas City Royals prospects: 14 players who could break into big leagues in 2022}} MLB Pipeline named Klein the Royals' Pitching Prospect of the Year following the season's end.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/will-klein-2021-royals-pitching-prospect-of-the-year|title = Fiery Klein KC's Pitching Prospect of the Year|website = MLB.com}} He missed the beginning of the 2022 season due to shin splints.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-will-klein-nursing-shin-injury/|title = Royals' Will Klein: Nursing shin injury| date=April 4, 2022 }} 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-will-klein-debuts-at-double-a/ | title=Royals' Will Klein: Debuts at Double-A | date=May 16, 2022 }} Over thirty games (three starts), he went 1–1 with a 10.51 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and 51 walks over {{fraction|43|2|3}} innings.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/will-klein-694361?season=2022&team=1350 | title=Will Klein Stats, Fantasy & News }} He returned to the Naturals to open the 2023 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-royals-top-prospects-are-starting-2023-season | title=Where Royals top prospects are starting 2023 season | website=MLB.com }} In mid-June, he was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A International League.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/omaha/news/will-klein-named-to-2023-siriusxm-all-star-futures-game-roster#:~:text=After%20beginning%20the%20year%20back,debut%20on%20June%2014%20vs. | title=Will Klein Named to 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game Roster }} He was selected to represent the Royals at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2023-mlb-futures-game-rosters-orioles-jackson-holliday-red-soxs-marcelo-mayer-among-notable-names/ | title=2023 MLB Futures Game rosters: Orioles' Jackson Holliday, Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer among notable names | date=June 26, 2023 }} Over 49 appearances between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, Klein went 1–5 with a 4.62 ERA, 93 strikeouts, and 39 walks over {{fraction|64|1|3}} innings.{{Cite web |title=Will Klein Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/will-klein-694361 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}
On November 14, 2023, the Royals added Klein to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article281868868.html |title=KC Royals protect two players from Rule 5 Draft. Here’s who was added to 40-man roster |work=Kansas City Star |author=Thompson, Jaylon |date=November 14, 2023 |access-date=August 15, 2024}} He was optioned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Royals' Will Klein: Optioned to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-will-klein-optioned-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=March 10, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On April 25, 2024, Klein was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Alec Marsh.{{Cite web|title=Royals Place Alec Marsh On Injured List, Recall Will Klein For MLB Debut|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/royals-place-alec-marsh-on-injured-list-recall-will-klein-for-mlb-debut.html|access-date=April 24, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} In five appearances for Kansas City, he recorded a 6.35 ERA with six strikeouts across {{fraction|5|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=New Oakland Pitcher Will Klein to Join A's in San Francisco|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/new-oakland-pitcher-will-klein-to-join-a-s-in-san-francisco-01j43kr1a22t|access-date=August 1, 2024|website=si.com|language=en}}
=Oakland Athletics=
On July 30, 2024, the Royals traded Klein, Mason Barnett, and Jared Dickey to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Lucas Erceg.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-lucas-erceg-lands-with-kansas-city/amp/|title=Royals' Lucas Erceg: Lands with Kansas City|website=CBSSports.com}} In 3 games for Oakland, he struggled to a 27.00 ERA with 1 strikeout across {{fraction|1|2|3}} innings pitched. Klein was designated for assignment by the Athletics on January 17, 2025.{{cite news |title=Athletics, Jose Leclerc agree to 1-year, $10 million deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43456786/athletics-jose-leclerc-agree-1-year-10-million-deal |access-date=January 18, 2025 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=January 18, 2025}}
=Seattle Mariners=
On January 21, 2025, Klein was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for international bonus pool space.{{cite news |title=Mariners Acquire Will Klein, Designate Tyler Jay For Assignment |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/mariners-acquire-will-klein-designate-tyler-jay-for-assignment.html |access-date=January 21, 2025 |publisher=mlbtraderumors.com |date=January 21, 2025}} He was optioned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to begin the season.{{Cite web|title=Mariners Release Neftali Feliz|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/mariners-release-neftali-feliz.html|access-date=March 14, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=694361|espn=4313163|br=k/kleinwi01|fangraphs=27787|brm=klein-002wil|retro=K/Pkleiw001}}
- [https://eiupanthers.com/sports/baseball/roster/will-klein/6767 Eastern Illinois bio]
{{Seattle Mariners roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Klein, Will}}
Category:Baseball players from Indiana
Category:Danville Dans players
Category:Eastern Illinois Panthers baseball players
Category:Kansas City Royals players
Category:Lakeshore Chinooks players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Category:Oakland Athletics players
Category:Omaha Storm Chasers players
Category:Quad Cities River Bandits players