This Los Angeles Dodgers World Series was supposed to belong to Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman — to stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk. But on Monday night at Dodger Stadium, it became Will Klein’s night.
A Career Night on Baseball’s Biggest Stage
Before Game 3, few outside the Dodgers’ clubhouse knew much about the 25-year-old reliever. He wasn’t on the roster for any of the team’s previous postseason rounds and had thrown just 15 innings during the regular season. But when the bullpen ran dry in an 18-inning marathon, Klein delivered four scoreless frames that kept Los Angeles alive long enough for Freeman’s walk-off homer to seal a 6–5 win over Toronto.
“I started to feel it,” Klein said afterward. “There were times when your legs aren’t there or your arm’s not there. And you’ve just got to be like, ‘Well, who else is going to come save me, you know?’”
He threw 72 pitches — nearly triple his career high — striking out five and allowing only one hit. Each inning, Dodgers coaches checked on him. Each time, his response was the same: “As many as you guys need.”
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From Journeyman to Dodgers Postseason Hero
Klein began 2025 in Oakland, was traded to Seattle, and joined the Dodgers midseason after being designated for assignment. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Injuries and personal absences opened a World Series roster spot, and Klein made the most of it.
Manager Dave Roberts called the outing “incredible,” adding, “He threw probably three times as much as he’s ever thrown before, and certainly with the adrenaline on this stage, what he did was unbelievable.”
Even Clayton Kershaw, who recorded the final out of the 12th inning, praised him: “What he did tonight — above and beyond what anybody can expect of somebody that’s literally never done that before.”
Vote For Your Favorite Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
A Moment Will Klein Will Never Forget
When Freeman’s homer ended the six-hour epic, Klein was mobbed by his teammates — and later congratulated by Sandy Koufax himself.
“I never dreamed anything like this would happen,” Klein said. “Just having guys like Kersh, Freddie, Shohei, and Mookie celebrating me — I don’t think I could’ve dreamt a dream that good.”
