Will Klein (baseball)

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Will Klein
Klein pitching for the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2024
Kansas City Royals – No. 36
Pitcher
Born: (1999-11-28) November 28, 1999 (age 24)
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 28, 2024, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through June 2, 2024)
Win–loss record1-0
Earned run average6.00
Strikeouts5
Teams

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

Amateur career[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  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 2024-01-11.
  16. ^ https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article281868868.html [bare URL]
  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.

External links[edit]

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