LOS ANGELES — Some guys show up to the offseason as a blur of workouts and quiet throwing sessions. Will Klein has done plenty of that too, but over the last few days he’s also been living the part that makes this whole Dodgers thing feel bigger than the box score.
On Thursday night at the Glendale Recreation Center, Klein traded the bullpen for a dinner-and-dance floor at Glendale’s “Senior Prom,” a community celebration for seniors 65 and over. Two days later, he was back at Dodger Stadium for DodgerFest, talking through how strange (and fun) it is to go from “new guy” to World Series hero with fans wearing his jersey.
“They’re moving well for being 80”
At the Glendale event, Klein was immediately himself — blunt, amused, and genuinely charmed by the night.
“We’re just here celebrating senior prom, 65 and over,” he said. “Giving some dinner and dancing with them and crowning the oldest seniors here right now… which is pretty fun.”
Then he looked around the room like he couldn’t believe the energy.
“They’re doing great,” he said. “They’re moving well for being 80, which is awesome. I wish I’m in this kind of shape when I’m 80.”
When asked what his favorite part was, he didn’t overthink it.
“Just seeing how happy they all are,” he said. “We walked in and sat down, and it was really fun. I got to hear some cool stories.”
Klein said what stood out most was the perspective — the kind you only get from people who’ve been watching this franchise since before half the current roster was born.
“They’re all talking about how they’ve been lifelong Dodgers fans since the ’50s,” he said, “and… all the old players they used to like watching. It’s been really cool to hear the perspectives, and how much they appreciate us now.”
From “getting traded” to getting recognized
Klein also gave a pretty honest snapshot of how fast his life flipped.
“I think I’m almost a year from getting traded,” he said, before catching himself and laughing through the moment. The point landed anyway: the distance between then and now still doesn’t feel real to him.
“Just going from that to now celebrating a World Series is kind of insane,” he said. “I don’t think you really dream it up… but it’s been really cool.”
That same theme came up again at DodgerFest, only louder — because DodgerFest is always louder.
“It’s been great,” he said of the offseason. “Everyone’s been so receptive and loving — fans and players and everybody alike.”
And yes, he’s noticed the shift in how people treat him.
“A lot more people know who I am,” he said. “Having a World Series ring is probably the biggest change. I’ve gotten so many nice messages from fans… that’s been the best thing about it.”
Why he keeps showing up for community events
One of the most telling parts of both interviews was how naturally Klein talked about giving back — not as a slogan, but as something he feels like he owes.
“I don’t get here without the fans and their support,” he said in Glendale. “So just to be able to feel that and then reciprocate it… make sure they know they’re seen as well.”
At DodgerFest, he put it even more plainly:
“You don’t have the team without the community,” he said. “Being able to go out there and give back… that was great.”
He mentioned meeting firefighters and spending time at different events around the area, and you could tell he meant it: this wasn’t a guy checking a PR box. This was a guy still a little stunned that people care enough to show up.
The October moment he won’t rewatch
Klein admitted something that a lot of pitchers probably feel but don’t always say out loud: he can’t really sit down and relive his biggest inning.
“Sometimes when the highlights pop up on my Instagram, I’ll watch them,” he said. “But I can’t go back and watch the game myself.”
Why not?
“It was kind of out of body,” he said. “It was so nerve-wracking, and there’s so much adrenaline in the moment that going back watching it brings it back.”
That’s a pretty perfect description of postseason relief work: you’re either on the mound or you’re trying not to think about the mound.
What he’s actually working on for 2026
When the conversation shifted to baseball, Klein sounded like a pitcher who learned something important last season — and wants to build on it instead of living off it.
“Same way — one day at a time,” he said. “Finding the small things to get better at.”
He talked about tightening execution, especially with his slider.
“Just executing my slider a little bit better,” he said. “There were a couple where I’d yank it or spike it. So being able to keep it in the zone… shorten the miss a little bit.”
But the bigger change, in his mind, wasn’t mechanical. It was mental.
“When I first got here, I was a little tentative,” he said. “Now… I’m going to make them hit it instead of being like, ‘What if they hit it?’ I’m going to make them be better than me.”
That’s a reliever talking. That’s the mindset that plays in this town.
Living in the noise
Klein was pretty candid about how different Los Angeles feels, and how weird it is to be the guy people scream for.
“I don’t know if anyone’s ever ready for all this,” he said. “It’s crazy. LA is definitely different, but I like it. This is awesome. The fans are great.”
And he’s not pretending last year’s ring buys anyone a calmer season.
“We won it last year, but we haven’t won it this year,” he said. “You’ve got to go out and play each game, throw each pitch… prepare like you haven’t done anything and go play as best you can.”
That’s the through-line from Glendale to DodgerFest: Klein is enjoying the moment, but he’s not treating it like a finish line. He’s soaking in the love, listening to fans who’ve been here since the ’50s, and still talking like a guy who’s trying to earn tomorrow’s inning.
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