Will Klein (baseball)
Will Klein | |
---|---|
Kansas City Royals – No. 36 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. | November 28, 1999|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 28, 2024, for the Kansas City Royals | |
MLB statistics (through June 9, 2024) | |
Win–loss record | 1–0 |
Earned run average | 6.35 |
Strikeouts | 6 |
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]
- ^ Gordillo, Jim. "North grad Will Klein drafted in 5th round by Royals". The Herald-Times.
- ^ MONAHAN, MIKE (May 21, 2020). "Eastern Illinois baseball player Will Klein looks towards MLB draft, projected in first five rounds". JG-TC.com.
- ^ "Eastern Illinois University baseball player Will Klein picked in the fifth round, 135th overall by the Kansas City Royals". June 13, 2020.
- ^ "Royals wrap 2020 MLB Draft by selecting 2 college pitchers". June 12, 2020.
- ^ "Will Klein inks with Royals". The Herald-Times.
- ^ "Bandits' Klein has been bringing the heat". September 11, 2021.
- ^ "Kansas City Royals prospects: 14 players who could break into big leagues in 2022".
- ^ "Fiery Klein KC's Pitching Prospect of the Year". MLB.com.
- ^ "Royals' Will Klein: Nursing shin injury". April 4, 2022.
- ^ "Royals' Will Klein: Debuts at Double-A". May 16, 2022.
- ^ "Will Klein Stats, Fantasy & News".
- ^ "Where Royals top prospects are starting 2023 season". MLB.com.
- ^ "Will Klein Named to 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game Roster".
- ^ "2023 MLB Futures Game rosters: Orioles' Jackson Holliday, Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer among notable names". June 26, 2023.
- ^ "Will Klein Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article281868868.html [bare URL]
- ^ "Royals' Will Klein: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ "Royals Place Alec Marsh On Injured List, Recall Will Klein For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Eastern Illinois bio
- 1999 births
- Living people
- Baseball players from Indiana
- Danville Dans players
- Eastern Illinois Panthers baseball players
- Kansas City Royals players
- Lakeshore Chinooks players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
- Omaha Storm Chasers players
- Quad Cities River Bandits players
- Sportspeople from Bloomington, Indiana