Klein is the 347th former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. – Former Lakeshore Chinook Will Klein made his Major League debut for the Kansas City Royals on April 28, 2024. Klein is the 347th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Klein, who played collegiately at Eastern Illinois University, played for the Chinooks in 2019. He was drafted by the Royals in the 5th round of the 2020 MLB Draft.
In 2019 with the Chinooks, Klein appeared in 16 games and was 2-2 with a .86 ERA. He struck out 38 batters in 21.0 innings and had seven saves.
Klein started his professional career in 2021 with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Central League. In 36 games he was 7-1 with a 3.20 ERA. He struck out 121 and had four saves in 70.1 innings pitched.
In 2022 Klein spent the full season in the Texas League with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He pitched 43.2 innings and was 1-1 with 55 strikeouts.
Klein started the 2023 season with the Naturals and then was promoted, after 21 games, to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the AAA International League. Between the two clubs he appeared in 49 games and was 1-5 with a 4.62 ERA. He had 93 strikeouts in 64.1 innings and saved four games.
The 2024 season started with Klein back in Omaha where he had appeared in nine games and was 0-0 with a .82 ERA along with 12 strikeouts over 11.0 innings. In his Major League debut against the Detroit Tigers, Klein entered the game in the 8th inning and pitched one inning allowing no runs and no hits while striking out two.
###
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 345 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play
