| Will Klein | |
|---|---|
Klein pitching for the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2024
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| Kansas City Royals – No. 36 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1999-11-28) November 28, 1999 (age 24) | |
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 | |
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William Boone Klein (born November 28, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City RoyalsofMajor League Baseball (MLB).
Klein attended Bloomington High School NorthinBloomington, 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]
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]
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Kansas City Royals current roster
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