Dodgers World Series hero reworking his arsenal as he competes for 2026 bullpen spot

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Will Klein took full advantage of his club's bullpen shortage in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, shoving four innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball when the Dodgers badly needed it.

The performance made Klein a Dodgers legend overnight. Four months later, and LA's 'pen is once again rife with opportunity, with multiple arms on the mend. This gives Klein a shot to turn his lightning-in-a-bottle moment into a sustained role, and he's been fine-tuning his arsenal in preparation.

Dodgers' Will Klein is making adjustments to his pitch arsenal

According to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, Klein has completely changed his slider grip with the help of Dodgers assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness.

Klein and McGuiness worked out that by using Klein's curveball grip but rotating the baseball 90 degrees, Klein can achieve far more horizontal movement with his slider, and "it's made a huge difference," per Ardaya.

Klein has also been prioritizing his psychological development by working closely with the Dodgers' mental skills staff to strengthen his confidence.

It might surprise fans to learn that a World Series hero suffers from doubts about his own abilities (especially one who's been congratulated by Sandy Koufax!), but these guys are human at the end of the day. Also, keep in mind that Klein has only made 16 appearances on the mound for the Dodgers. While Klein delivered when it mattered most, he doesn't necessarily have the mental surety that comes with prolonged success.

Another counterintuitive aspect of Klein's upcoming season — and career in general — is that he might step into more opportunities as a member of the Dodgers than he would with a lesser franchise. You'd think that a team as loaded with talent as Los Angeles wouldn't have room for Klein, but quite the contrary. The Dodgers have been cursed with regular season injuries during this dynastic stretch, especially when it comes to the bullpen.

Ultimately, the "stay-ready" mentality that made Klein immortal in the World Series will be something he must continue to embrace moving forward, even when the stakes are far lower.

The other thing about pitching for the world's best baseball team is that exposure is greater here than anywhere else. If Klein continues to reveal his quality whenever called upon, he'll have other MLB suitors calling up the Dodgers, which could lead to a contingency plan for Klein's career if and when LA's bullpen becomes too crowded (and healthy) for his services.