LOS ANGELES, CA — Long before he was freezing Major League hitters under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium, Will Klein was just a smart, analytical kid growing up in Bloomington, Indiana. Raised in the absolute heart of Hoosier country, Klein’s childhood passions were divided between a blistering four-seam fastball and his love for hobbies like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards.
His intricate, puzzle-solving mind and focus served him well, but it was his raw, untamed physical talent that ultimately paved his future. After starring as a power-armed pitcher and catcher at Bloomington High School North, Klein decided to head a few hours west. He enrolled at Eastern Illinois University to pitch for the Eastern Illinois Panthers, eager to see just how far his triple-digit velocity could carry him.
The Rocky Road Through the Big Leagues
Klein’s immense potential was undeniable. He quickly grew into the top draft prospect in the Ohio Valley Conference, striking out 33 batters in 24.1 innings during a shortened 2020 season. His explosive stuff caught the attention of the Kansas City Royals, who selected him in the 5th round of the 2020 MLB Draft.
However, the major league journey is rarely a straight line. Despite a blazing fastball that routinely touched 99–100 mph, Klein struggled mightily with his command. He bounced through the minor leagues, facing a whirlwind year of professional instability:
- The Royals: Debuted in early 2024 but struggled to find consistency.
- The Athletics: Acquired by Oakland but eventually designated for assignment (DFA’d).
- The Mariners: Picked up by Seattle, only to be DFA’d once again just months later.
To many organizations, Klein was viewed as a high-risk reliever who couldn’t harness his own electric arm. But when the Los Angeles Dodgers came calling in June, they saw something else—an elite, untapped metric profile and a staff capable of recognizing his true talent.
How the Dodgers Fixed His Mechanics
When Klein arrived in the Dodgers organization, the pitching development staff immediately went to work to correct the erratic command that had caused his previous teams to give up on him.
- The Stride Alignment: Video analysis revealed that Klein’s front hip was leaking open too early in his delivery. This caused his arm to drag behind his body, forcing his explosive fastball to sail high and arm-side. The Dodgers shortened his stride slightly to keep his lower half stacked and aligned toward home plate.
- The Release Window: By stabilizing his front knee at landing, the staff created a more consistent, repeatable release window. This dramatically improved his command over his heavy 98 mph four-seamer.
- Tunneling the Slider: With his mechanics synced up, the Dodgers altered the grip on his 89 mph slider. They focused on “tunneling” it out of the exact same visual lane as his fastball, making it completely indistinguishable to opposing hitters until it snapped across the zone.
The Night a Legend Was Born
Stashed away at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Klein quietly worked on these adjustments. He earned a brief big-league call-up late in the season, but nothing could have prepared baseball for his inclusion on the 2025 World Series roster.
That decision altered Dodgers history during Game 3. In an agonizing, 18-inning marathon match, the Dodgers’ bullpen had completely dissolved. With no options left, manager Dave Roberts handed the ball to Klein.
What followed was pure baseball immortality:
- 4 Shutout Innings: Klein bypassed his career limit to throw four frames of scoreless relief.
- 5 Strikeouts: He baffled hitters with his newly tuned slider and roaring fastballs.
- 72 Pitches: A grueling, heroic effort that stood as the longest outing of his life.
When the Dodgers finally walked it off in the bottom of the 18th, Klein earned the official win. The performance instantly cemented him as an all-time Dodgers postseason icon.
In Their Own Words
The magnitude of Klein’s performance resonated from his hometown all the way to the clubhouse.
“He’s now something for kids to aspire to, so I think it’s fantastic,” said Bloomington North baseball head coach Richard Hurt, who text Klein right after the game. “There’s only been 700 or so World Series games, and now Will Klein has one of those wins. He texted back and said, ‘Thanks, coach. It’s been a wild ride since North.’ And that’s very, very true.”
Inside the ecstatic, postgame locker room, his teammates were equally stunned by his resilience.
“I played with Will this year in Triple-A,” shared pitcher Emmet Sheehan. “I saw the stuff and how nasty he is and how great of a competitor he is, so it’s not a surprise for me. That was just willpower. He got us that win.”
Building a Formidable Future
Now operating in the 2026 season, Klein is no longer a journeyman looking for a home. He has officially graduated from an emergency postseason savior to a formidable cornerstone of the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Refining his command and building off his legendary October momentum, Klein even secured the first official regular-season save of his MLB career in May 2026. Backed by a front office that believed in him when others passed, the smart kid from Hoosier country has found his permanent home under the lights of Los Angeles.
More Dodgers Coverage:
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
Dodgers Beat Writer covering the intersection of MLB and international talent. An alumnus of both the University of Louisiana and Colorado State University, I specialize in Asian culture and NPB history. Fluent in Japanese, Spanish, and Korean, I provide a unique, multilingual perspective on the Dodgers’ global roster. See whatshoheireallysaid.com or seantcannon.com for more information.
