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Rookie Reliever Klein Delivers Clutch Performance for Dodgers
28 Oct
Summary
- Dodgers' Will Klein pitched over 3 innings in Game 3 marathon
- Klein was recently acquired by the Dodgers ahead of the World Series
- Klein had never pitched more than 2 innings in a single game before
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays engaged in a marathon Game 3 battle that tested the limits of the Dodgers' depth. As the game wore on, manager Dave Roberts had to get creative with his pitching staff, and one of the unsung heroes who stepped up was rookie reliever Will Klein.
Klein, a 25-year-old who was added to the Dodgers' roster ahead of the World Series, had never pitched more than 2 innings in a single game before. However, on this night, he tossed over 3 innings, helping the Dodgers weather the extended contest.
Klein's journey to this moment has been an interesting one. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2020 and enjoyed a solid start to his professional career, even earning a spot in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game. Since then, he's been traded to the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners before landing with the Dodgers in June 2025, where he's thrived with a 2.35 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.
The Dodgers' depth was truly tested in this game, with players like Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, and Will Smith all making key contributions. But it was the unheralded Klein who stepped up in a big way, delivering a clutch performance that helped the Dodgers emerge victorious in this marathon battle.
