Will Klein’s stellar NWL season with the Chinooks made all the difference
GRAFTON, Wis. (BVM) — Being selected in the 2020 MLB Draft was different than any other year in recent history. With only five rounds instead of 40, teams had to be certain of who they were going to select.
What made that process even harder was with COVID-19 shutting down spring sports across the country, there was no recent game film of any player. Teams would have to rely on workout numbers and older game film to make their selections.
For Will Klein, the No. 1 prospect in the Ohio Valley Conference entering the 2020 season, that meant looking back to his 2019 summer season with the Lakeshore Chinooks.
“I definitely think our Northwoods League season with him really got him on a lot of the scouts’ radars,” Chinooks GM Eric Snodgrass said.
Over the years, the Chinooks had developed a good relationship with the coaching staff at Eastern Illinois University where Klein was playing. The Chinooks needed pitching and when they asked EIU, the Panthers sent them Klein.
“They thought that if we took him we’d be getting a good player out of it and they were definitely not wrong,” Snodgrass said. ”We didn’t think he’d have the stats he did.”
In 16 appearances and 21 innings as a late-inning relief pitcher for the Chinooks,
Klein had a 0.85 ERA, 38 strikeouts, only 8 walks, a 2-2 record and seven saves.
“When we had taken the lead and had a close or save situation, we knew with him on the mound it would be lights out,” Snodgrass said.
His stellar performance throughout the season landed him a spot in the 2019 NWL All-Star Game.
“He really wanted to pitch in it because he knew it was his chance to get in front of more scouts,” Snodgrass said. “He knew it was going to be his last appearance of the year. … On the car ride over he said, ‘I’m going to basically throw my arm out. I’m going to throw as hard as I can in front of these scouts and give it my all.’”
Knowing that he would be shut down for the rest of the summer until fall ball started, Klein was true to his word. He only faced two batters and he not only struck both out, he twice hit 100 mph on the radar.
“In my nine years in the league I’ve seen guys that can hit mid 90s, 96, 97. Very rarely have I seen someone that can hit 98, 99 let alone 100,” Snodgrass said. “He’s the only guy I’ve ever seen hit 100 at our ballpark, all-star games or anything.
“I think what really put him over the top was that all-star game.”
That was important leading into the draft. Klein only got four games in this year before the 2020 NCAA spring season was canceled. The control and velocity that Klein displayed during his time with the Chinooks is what MLB teams love out of their bullpen. That’s why with the 135th pick in the draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Klein and then signed him to a contract on June 23.
