Will Klein (baseball)

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17+2⁄3 innings after breaking his thumb, but still struck out thirty batters and compiled a 1.98 ERA. [2] 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. [3]

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. [4] [5] He signed for $200,000. [6]

Klein made his professional debut in 2021 with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Central. [7] Over 36 relief appearances, he went 7–1 with a 3.20 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and 44 walks over 70+1⁄3 innings pitched. [8] MLB Pipeline named Klein the Royals' Pitching Prospect of the Year following the season's end. [9] He missed the beginning of the 2022 season due to shin splints. [10] 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. [11] Over thirty games (three starts), he went 1–1 with a 10.51 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and 51 walks over 43+2⁄3 innings. [12] He returned to the Naturals to open the 2023 season. [13] In mid-June, he was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A International League. [14] He was selected to represent the Royals at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game. [15] 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. [16]

On November 14, 2023, the Royals added Klein to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. [17] He was optioned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2024 season. [18] On April 25, 2024, Klein was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Alec Marsh. [19] In five appearances for Kansas City, he recorded a 6.35 ERA with six strikeouts across 5+2⁄3 innings pitched. [20]

Oakland Athletics

On July 30, 2024, the Royals traded Klein, Mason Barnett, and Jared Dickey to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Lucas Erceg. [21]

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.mlb.com/player/will-klein-694361
  2. ↑ Gordillo, Jim. "North grad Will Klein drafted in 5th round by Royals". The Herald-Times.
  3. ↑ MONAHAN, MIKE (May 21, 2020). "Eastern Illinois baseball player Will Klein looks towards MLB draft, projected in first five rounds". JG-TC.com.
  4. ↑ "Eastern Illinois University baseball player Will Klein picked in the fifth round, 135th overall by the Kansas City Royals". June 13, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Royals wrap 2020 MLB Draft by selecting 2 college pitchers". June 12, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Will Klein inks with Royals". The Herald-Times.
  7. ↑ "Bandits' Klein has been bringing the heat". September 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Kansas City Royals prospects: 14 players who could break into big leagues in 2022".
  9. ↑ "Fiery Klein KC's Pitching Prospect of the Year". MLB.com .
  10. ↑ "Royals' Will Klein: Nursing shin injury". April 4, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Royals' Will Klein: Debuts at Double-A". May 16, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Will Klein Stats, Fantasy & News".
  13. ↑ "Where Royals top prospects are starting 2023 season". MLB.com .
  14. ↑ "Will Klein Named to 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game Roster".
  15. ↑ "2023 MLB Futures Game rosters: Orioles' Jackson Holliday, Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer among notable names". June 26, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Will Klein Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  17. ↑ Thompson, Jaylon (November 14, 2023). "KC Royals protect two players from Rule 5 Draft. Here's who was added to 40-man roster". Kansas City Star . Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Royals' Will Klein: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Royals Place Alec Marsh On Injured List, Recall Will Klein For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  20. ↑ "New Oakland Pitcher Will Klein to Join A's in San Francisco". si.com. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Royals' Lucas Erceg: Lands with Kansas City". CBSSports.com.
Will Klein
Will Klein (53624265245) (cropped).jpg
Klein pitching for the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2024
Athletics – No. 64
Pitcher
Born: (1999-11-28) November 28, 1999 (age 24)
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. [1]
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 28, 2024, for the Kansas City Royals
Athletics current roster
Active roster
Restricted list
Coaching staff
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