Will Klein looks ready for larger role with Dodgers – Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES — The impostor syndrome comes and goes for Will Klein, though the love the right-hander has obtained from Dodgers followers this week has began to interrupt the cycle.
From an under-the-radar commerce acquisition in June to World Series hero by OctoberKlien spent the winter nonetheless energized by his 4 scoreless innings in Game 3 of the World Series in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Except that on some days, the reminiscence performed out like a dream. And there have been instances when it appeared just like the feat was completed by another person, in a second Klein marveled and never essentially achieved.
So Klein gave it some context.
“You see other people have big moments in national championship games, Super Bowls and you’re like, ‘That’s fun to watch,’” Klein mentioned. “So to have that moment for myself and to hear it from fans and family, it reminds you of the stuff you grew up watching.”
Klein had that type of second for the Dodgers, who wanted no matter edge they might get in opposition to the Blue Jays. Klein’s outing helped end off an 18-inning victoryextending the sport lengthy sufficient for Freddie Freeman to hit a game-winning house run.
Klein arrived at spring coaching with confidence and channeled it right into a 1.93 ERA over 10 Cactus League outings that earned him an Opening Day roster spot and the possibility to be available for Friday’s championship ring ceremony.
And when his identify was referred to as and the followers roared as he walked the blue carpet to get his {hardware}, Klein mentioned the fact of the second impacted him like by no means earlier than.
“I think when it really hit was getting the ring and seeing the fans,” Klein mentioned of the uncooked feelings. “That was, ‘Oh crap.’ That’s when it was real. That was a huge moment. “Now I just want to go do it again.”
In his excellent inning of aid throughout his debut season that adopted, Klein despatched a sign that he’s right here to remain.
“That look he had coming off the field (Friday), he was a different guy,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “Hitters feel that. He’s grown a lot with real confidence, and I just love the way he attacks.”
Heading into Saturday’s sport, Klein had simply 17 appearances in a Dodgers uniform, World Series included, however Roberts sees late-inning aid appearances down the highway.
“He’s trending in the right direction,” Roberts mentioned. “You attack, you throw strikes, you can get left and right out, you can change speeds with the curveball, you can throw close to 100 (mph), that’s an uncomfortable at-bat. So for me, he’s getting right there on that trust tree.”
Turning that World Series second into an asset for this season was not as simple because it might sound.
“When I started this year, I was worried about living up to the four innings,” Klein mentioned. “But I used to be like, ‘That’s simply who I’m as a pitcher. I haven’t got to reside as much as something as a result of I did that.’ That’s what I’ll attempt to do on daily basis, even when it is one inning or one out.
“Don’t let that moment get bigger than it is. I was the one that did that and I can go out and do it again.”
A WILL AND A WAY
Roberts mentioned he won’t make a behavior of beginning Will Smith behind the plate for three consecutive video games within the early a part of the season, however he did within the opening collection. Smith caught on Opening Day and once more Friday when the crew obtained its World Series rings.
On Saturday, his begin got here on his bobblehead evening.
Dalton Rushing will get his first begin of the season at catcher throughout Monday’s collection opener in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians. A uncommon Sunday off day will give Smith two days of relaxation earlier than he returns to the lineup Tuesday.
“He doesn’t love (it), but he’ll get two days off,” Roberts mentioned.
UTILITY WORK
Kiké Hernandez and Tommy Edman took early batting apply on the sphere as they ramp up their rehabilitation from 2025 accidents.
Hernandez played through an elbow injury in October, whereas Edman was nursing an ankle damage. Both provides required offseason surgical procedure.
“I don’t know when Kiké comes off (the 60-day injured list), but I would be shocked if he wasn’t ready when that time’s up,” Roberts mentioned. “Taking grounders, the way he’s moving, the way he’s throwing, catching it, the swing, the ball coming off the bat, if I didn’t know any better, I would think he was in the lineup tonight.”
NOTES
Freddie Freeman was in the No. 5 spot of the lineup Friday in opposition to Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, marking his first begin within the 5 gap since 2013. … Santiago Espinal made his Dodgers debut, taking the place of Max Muncy at third base whereas batting seventh, forward of Andy Pages and Miguel Rojas.
UP NEXT
Guardians (TBA) at Dodgers (Roki Sasaki, 1-1, 4.46 ERA in 2025), Monday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, AM 1020
