Dodgers hail former Royal for being unsung hero in epic World Series victory
Dodgers players mobbed Freddie Freeman after his home run ended Los Angeles’ incredible 18-inning victory over the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday.
But the players soon turned their attention to former Royals pitcher Will Klein, who was celebrated by teammates. Although he wasn’t on Los Angeles’ playoff roster during the first two rounds, Klein pitched four clutch scoreless innings in Monday’s 6-5 win and was the winning pitcher at Dodger Stadium.
“That was so cool,” Klein told reporters. “I never dreamed that anything like this would happen. So just having the guys like Kersh (Clayton Kershaw), Freddie, Shohei (Ohtani), Mookie (Betts), all those guys like kind of celebrating me for a second there was just insane. I don’t think I could have dreamt a dream that good. So that was, yeah, that was crazy.”
Klein, who kept himself in shape during the playoffs by pitching live at-bats in Arizona, allowed just one hit in four innings with two walks and five strikeouts.
His journey to World Series hero was an unlikely one.
The Royals traded Klein to the A’s as part of the deal for Lucas Erceg at the 2024 trade deadline. The A’s dealt Klein to the Mariners in January, and Seattle sent Klein to the Dodgers in June.
Klein, who was selected by the Royals in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, pitched just 15 1/3 innings for the Dodgers in the regular season. He threw more than 25% of those total innings on Monday night.
The last time Klein threw 72 pitches in a game? It was probably at Eastern Illinois when he was a starter, Klein surmised.
“I don’t know if he’s ever thrown 70 pitches and so for him to go and shove for 70 pitches, that was amazing,” Dodgers star Betts told reporters after the game. “He gave us every opportunity, and we finally came through.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talked after the game about how players step up in big playoff moments.
“In the postseason people talk about the superstars, but a lot of times it’s these unsung heroes that you just can’t expect, and guys, you know, come to pass and pop,” Roberts told reporters. “Tonight was Will Klein’s night, and obviously, what Edgardo (Henriquez) did was just as paramount.”
Klein, who had a 6.35 ERA in five games with the Royals in 2024, was amazed he was one of those heroes.
“Yeah, I don’t think I could have ever imagined that this would happen,” Klein told reporters. “At the start of this year I was still with the A’s, and then ended up with the Mariners, and here. Even that was crazy. And then we were at home, and then got to go to Toronto, get added (to the playoff roster), and I was excited for that.
“And now, like, you don’t ever expect these things, but you’ve got to stay in it mentally and physically just in case. And you never think it’s going to be, like, this crazy, but just being able to stay ready and help the guys that have worked their butts off for this.”
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Dodgers hail former Royal for being unsung hero in epic World Series victory."
