Will Klein Bio
William Boone Klein, known professionally as Will Klein, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, the Oakland Athletics, and the Seattle Mariners, building a reputation as a hard-throwing reliever. Klein made his professional debut in 2021 and earned recognition as a top pitching prospect before reaching the majors in 2024. He is a World Series champion, having contributed to the Dodgers’ title in 2025.
Early Life and Background
William Boone Klein was born on November 28, 1999, and grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. He attended Bloomington High School North, where he emerged as a promising right-handed pitcher. As a senior in 2017, Klein pitched only 17+2⁄3 innings after breaking his thumb, but he still struck out 30 batters and compiled a 1.98 earned run average (ERA), drawing attention despite the shortened campaign. Unselected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, he decided to continue his development in college.
Klein enrolled at Eastern Illinois University, where he played college baseball for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. His freshman year was difficult, as he posted a 6.62 ERA over 17+2⁄3 innings, and he followed that with a 5.11 ERA over 24+2⁄3 innings as a sophomore. He showed clear progress as a junior in 2020, recording a 3.33 ERA with 33 strikeouts, though the season was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the summer of 2019, between his sophomore and junior years, Klein gained additional experience by playing collegiate summer baseball with the Lakeshore Chinooks of the Northwoods League.
Path to Major League Baseball
Klein’s path to professional baseball began when he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round with the 135th overall pick of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the organization for $200,000 and made his professional debut in 2021 with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Central. Over 36 relief appearances, he went 7–1 with a 3.20 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and 44 walks over 70+1⁄3 innings pitched, a performance that earned him recognition as the Royals’ Pitching Prospect of the Year from MLB Pipeline.
He missed the beginning of the 2022 season due to shin splints, then returned in mid-May with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League. Working in both the rotation and the bullpen, he posted a 10.51 ERA over 30 games but continued to show strikeout ability with 55 strikeouts in 43+2⁄3 innings. The following year, Klein returned to Northwest Arkansas to open the 2023 season and was promoted in mid-June to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A International League. He was selected to represent the Royals at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game, an honor reserved for top prospects. On November 14, 2023, the Royals added Klein to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, clearing the way for his first major league opportunity.
Will Klein Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Klein’s early professional years were defined by steady progression through the Royals’ minor league system. After a strong debut season with Quad Cities in 2021, he advanced to Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2022 and earned a midseason promotion to Triple-A Omaha in 2023. His high strikeout totals and arm strength consistently drew praise from evaluators.
The 2023 season was particularly notable, as he combined for 49 appearances between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, going 1–5 with a 4.62 ERA, 93 strikeouts, and 39 walks over 64+1⁄3 innings. Being named to the 2023 All-Star Futures Game cemented his status as one of the Royals’ most promising young arms.
Major League Debut with the Kansas City Royals (2024)
Klein was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2024 season. On April 25, 2024, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Royals pitcher Alec Marsh. In five appearances for Kansas City, he recorded a 6.35 ERA with six strikeouts across 5+2⁄3 innings pitched, providing the Royals with a brief look at his big league potential before a midseason trade.
On July 30, 2024, the Royals traded Klein, Mason Barnett, and Jared Dickey to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Lucas Erceg. With Oakland, he allowed five runs across 1+2⁄3 innings pitched in three games. He was designated for assignment by the Athletics on January 17, 2025.
Brief Stint with Seattle and Trade to Los Angeles
On January 21, 2025, Klein was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for international bonus pool space. He was optioned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to begin the season, where he struggled to a 7.17 ERA with 32 strikeouts and three saves over 22 appearances. On May 31, Klein was designated for assignment by the Mariners. Four days later, on June 2, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Klein from the Mariners in exchange for Joe Jacques.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025–Present)
With the Dodgers, Klein found immediate stability, pitching in 14 games with a 2.35 ERA in 15+1⁄3 innings of major league work. He also logged 22+2⁄3 innings over 20 games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, finishing with a 5.16 ERA. After being inactive for the first three rounds of the postseason, Klein was added to the Dodgers’ active roster for the 2025 World Series, a decision that would soon define his young career.
In Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, with the Dodgers’ bullpen depleted, Klein struck out five batters across four scoreless innings and was credited with the win after Los Angeles secured a walk-off victory in the bottom of the 18th inning. The appearance was the longest of his major league career; he had never pitched more than two innings in any previous major league game. The Dodgers won the series in seven games, giving Klein a World Series championship in his first full major league postseason. On May 19, 2026, Klein recorded his first MLB save against the San Diego Padres, and on June 4, 2026, he surrendered his first major league home run to Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Klein is recognized as a power reliever whose fastball velocity plays well in late-inning situations. His strikeout ability, demonstrated by 60 strikeouts in his early Dodgers tenure, allows him to miss bats and shorten games. He has shown the durability to handle multi-inning stints, most notably during the 2025 World Series, and has continued to refine his command while working in the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Notable Events and Milestones
Klein’s signature moment came in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, when his four scoreless innings helped the Dodgers extend a marathon contest and ultimately take the championship in seven games. He also reached the milestones of his first MLB save in 2026 and his first major league home run allowed later that same month, both markers of his continued growth as a big league pitcher.
Will Klein Career Wins
Through the early portion of his major league career, Will Klein has collected wins with the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. His most celebrated victory came in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, a walk-off win that helped Los Angeles capture the championship. As a reliever, his win totals reflect high-leverage opportunities rather than regular starting assignments.
Major League Highlights
Klein’s most recent MLB statistics show a 4–3 win–loss record, a 3.57 earned run average, and 60 strikeouts for the Dodgers. His World Series Game 3 performance stands as the defining win of his career, while his early Royals appearances provided his first major league victory opportunities. The combination of regular season and postseason success has positioned him as a reliable bullpen option for Los Angeles.
Will Klein Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Will Klein’s family background remains limited. He was raised in Bloomington, Indiana, where he attended Bloomington High School North before continuing his baseball career at Eastern Illinois University. His commitment to the sport from a young age has shaped his development into a professional pitcher.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was transformative for Will Klein, beginning with brief stops in Oakland and Seattle before he landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in early June. He produced a 2.35 ERA across 14 appearances for Los Angeles, quickly earning a role in the bullpen. His late-season consistency set the stage for a memorable postseason run.
Klein’s postseason storyline reached its peak in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, when his four scoreless, five-strikeout innings preserved the Dodgers’ chances during a bullpen stretch that pushed the game into the 18th inning. The Dodgers went on to win the series in seven games, giving Klein his first World Series ring. Looking ahead, his continued development suggests a long-term role in high-leverage relief for one of baseball’s most prominent franchises.
