The Royals recalled Klein from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Klein, 24, has allowed just one unearned run with a 12:6 K:BB over 11 innings this season with Omaha. The reliever will be making his major-league debut when/if he enters a game.
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Royals' Will Klein: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Klein to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Klein was added to the Royals' 40-man roster in November after posting a 5.66 ERA and 1.85 WHIP across 35 innings in Triple-A last season. He struck out six batters over 3.2 scoreless frames during spring training, but he will need to prove he can find consistent success in the minors before getting the call to join Kansas City's bullpen.
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Royals' Will Klein: Selected to 40-man
Rotowire
The Royals selected Klein to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Klein, 23, posted a 4.62 ERA and 93:39 K:BB in 64.1 innings of work this past year between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. The young reliever could make his MLB debut in 2024.
Klein (lower leg) was reinstated from Double-A Northwest Arkansas' 7-day injured list Saturday and started in the affiliate's 7-6 loss to Wichita later that day. He covered 1.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on two hits and five walks while striking out one.
Klein had been sidelined for the first five weeks of the season while he dealt with shin splits, but he was cleared to debut at Northwest Arkansas over the weekend without having to complete a rehab assignment at a lower-level affiliate. In hindsight, the Royals may have wanted to give him a tune-up outing in the lower rungs of the minors, as he struggled mightily with both his command and control in his Double-A debut. Klein threw just 21 of his 45 pitches for strikes before he was lifted midway through the second inning.
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Royals' Will Klein: Nursing shin injury
Rotowire
Klein will be sidelined for the start of the minor-league season while he contends with shin splints, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
News of Klein's injury first became available Monday, when the Royals didn't list him on any of the season-opening active rosters the organization released for its minor-league affiliates. The 22-year-old right-hander spent his first professional campaign at High-A Quad Cities, finishing with a 3.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 121:44 K:BB across 70.1 innings.
