Klein grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, just a quick drive away from Target Field. He spent two years pitching at Iowa Central Community College and signed with the Twins as an undrafted free agent in 2022 following a solid showing in the Northwoods League. He’s snuck up on people a bit, throwing in relative anonymity across two levels of A ball in 2023 and '24, but he took a big jump forward in '25, pitching his way from Double-A Wichita to back home with Triple-A St. Paul. He was rewarded with a spot on the 40-man roster in the offseason.
At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Klein looks the part but didn’t enter pro ball with the stuff to back up the optics. He was throwing around 90 mph out of the gate and now, thanks to added strength and work in the Twins’ velocity camp, he was averaging 94 mph in 2025, topping out at 97 mph. Deception in his delivery helps the heater get more swings-and-misses. The addition of a curveball, and then adding some velocity to that, has turned it into his best secondary offering, an 80-mph breaker that is as close to an out pitch as he has, though he struggles to command it at times. He’s worked hard on an 85-86 mph splitter as well as an upper-80s cutter.
Considering Klein began with a below-average heater and no breaking stuff, this is a vast improvement. But the lack of a true put-away pitch could limit his ceiling. His long-term role is to be determined, but he’s just about ready to contribute, with a future as a swingman/spot starter/multi-inning reliever the most likely outcome.
