LOS ANGELES (WCIA) – Will Klein, an alumnus of Eastern Illinois University’s baseball program, has carved a lasting place in baseball history.
Having been part of the Panthers’ pitching roster from 2018 to 2020, Klein emerged as a crucial figure for the Dodgers during the third game of the World Series.
In an epic showdown that stretched 18 innings, Klein took the mound for Los Angeles from innings 15 to 18. Demonstrating remarkable skill, he struck out five without conceding a run, setting the stage for Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run that clinched the victory for the Dodgers in the bottom of the 18th inning.
Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round in 2020, Klein transitioned from his college team to the professional arena.
Reflecting on the game, Klein shared during the postgame conference, “We weren’t losing that game. I was ready to keep going back out there, determined to put up zeros, sit back down, and do it all over again.”
Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, Klein had never exceeded 36 pitches in a game during the 2025 season until Tuesday. However, he delivered 72 pitches across his four-inning performance. Notably, Klein was added to the Dodgers’ postseason roster just in time for the World Series.
EIU head baseball coach Jason Anderson coached Klein for three years in Charleston.
“He did awesome, and it was awesome to see,” Anderson told WCIA. “He’s very driven, very intelligent, I think he [scored a] 34 [on the] ACT. He has a lot of confidence and I’ve told a lot of people – It was almost like destiny of everything he has been through in his career. Starting off as a high school catcher, to be in that spot, not a lot of young people would be able to handle the pressure of that… That’s just his personality that really worked for him last night.”
The 6-5 win for LA, in a 6.5-hour marathon game, put it up 2-1 in the best of seven series.
