Will Klein

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #18 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Klein was the last of the Royals’ six picks in the five-round 2020 draft, and he might have already reached the big leagues if not for a shin injury that ruined his 2022 season. The Eastern Illinois product came back healthy in 2023 and split the season between Double-A northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. He shares a similar profile as fellow Royals prospect reliever John McMillon by racking up plenty of strikeouts to go along with a high walk rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Hitters do not get comfortable at-bats against Klein. He attacks with a double-plus fastball that sits 95-97 mph and touches 100 while playing up in the zone with vertical movement. His above-average 12-to-6 curveball is a hard downer at 82-84 mph that complements his fastball thanks to its hard drop, but he needs to land it more often for strikes down in the zone. Klein resumed throwing a high-80s slider/cutter that is now a plus pitch and a second swing-and-miss offering. Klein varies the usage of the two breaking balls depending on the game, but they are both wipeout offerings. His fourth pitch is a split-grip changeup that he doesn’t need much as a reliever. He lacks athleticism, and the stiffness of the body affects his ability to repeat his delivery, thus negatively impacting his control.
  
  The Future: The Royals added Klein to the 40-man roster, and he has a good chance to earn a bullpen spot out of spring training in 2024. He can work himself into high-leverage situations if he continues to reduce his walk rate.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #18 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Klein was Kansas City’s final pick in the shortened five-round 2020 draft, and it’s already looking like the Royals have found excellent value. A converted catcher, Klein pitched his first two college seasons in Eastern Illinois’ bullpen before moving into the starting rotation prior to the abbreviated 2020 season. The Royals used him exclusively in a reliever role during his pro debut, and Klein struck out nearly 41% of hitters he faced with High-A Quad Cities.
  
  Scouting Report: Klein attacks hitters with a plus four-seam fastball that sits at 96-97 mph with good vertical break and touches 100 mph. Batters struggled to catch up to his fastball, with 43% of balls hit to the opposite field against Klein in 2021. He pitched in two-inning stints with Quad Cities and held his velocity. Klein arrived in Kansas City’s organization with two distinct breaking balls, but has since shelved his slider/cutter in favor of refining his curveball. It’s a hard breaker, sitting at 83-85 mph, and batters struggled with it as Klein messed with their eye levels, whiffing nearly 45% of the time. He’s also working on a split-grip changeup, but it’s not a regular part of his repertoire. Batters hit just .173 against Klein, but he struggled with control issues, walking 5.63 batters per nine innings.
  
  The Future: Developing command and control will dictate Klein’s future, and even subtle improvements will enhance his potent two-pitch mix. He’s a candidate for a high-leverage bullpen role if he throws more strikes.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #204 prospect in 2020 draft
  Eastern Illinois has not had a player taken in the top 10 rounds of the draft since Tyler Kehrer was picked in the supplemental first round in 2008. Klein could break that drought as a power arm with a 94-99 mph fastball and a potentially above-average curveball. Klein moved into Eastern Illinois’ rotation this year after two years in the bullpen and was impressive in an Opening Day start against Arkansas. But overall he’s been more effective in shorter relief stints and likely fits better in pro ball back in the pen. He was dominating at times last summer in the Northwoods League as he was 2-2, 0.86 with only eight hits allowed in 21 innings. Klein’s control is fringy at best, hurt in part by a hook in the back of his delivery and he sometimes has to slow down his delivery to land his curve, tipping hitters. His delivery is relatively simple and shows some reminders of the fact that he was primarily a catcher until late in his high school career.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Klein was Kansas City’s final pick in the shortened five-round 2020 draft, and it’s already looking like the Royals have found excellent value. A converted catcher, Klein pitched his first two college seasons in Eastern Illinois’ bullpen before moving into the starting rotation prior to the abbreviated 2020 season. The Royals used him exclusively in a reliever role during his pro debut, and Klein struck out nearly 41% of hitters he faced with High-A Quad Cities.
  
  Scouting Report: Klein attacks hitters with a plus four-seam fastball that sits at 96-97 mph with good vertical break and touches 100 mph. Batters struggled to catch up to his fastball, with 43% of balls hit to the opposite field against Klein in 2021. He pitched in two-inning stints with Quad Cities and held his velocity. Klein arrived in Kansas City’s organization with two distinct breaking balls, but has since shelved his slider/cutter in favor of refining his curveball. It’s a hard breaker, sitting at 83-85 mph, and batters struggled with it as Klein messed with their eye levels, whiffing nearly 45% of the time. He’s also working on a split-grip changeup, but it’s not a regular part of his repertoire. Batters hit just .173 against Klein, but he struggled with control issues, walking 5.63 batters per nine innings.
  
  The Future: Developing command and control will dictate Klein’s future, and even subtle improvements will enhance his potent two-pitch mix. He’s a candidate for a high-leverage bullpen role if he throws more strikes.