What Dodgers pitcher Will Klein said after recording first career save vs. Padres

The Los Angeles Dodgers received a memorable bullpen moment Tuesday night when Will Klein secured the first save of his major league career. The 26-year-old reliever closed out a tense 5-4 victory vs. the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, adding another dramatic finish to the growing rivalry between the National League West contenders.

Klein’s appearance immediately became one of the Dodgers’ biggest bullpen storylines this week. The right-hander entered a high-pressure situation and recorded the final outs needed to preserve an important divisional victory. The outing also reflected the growing trust Los Angeles has started placing in him during meaningful games.

The save carried added personal significance for Klein after several challenging seasons navigating roster moves, development adjustments, and bullpen uncertainty. His composed finish against San Diego showcased both his progress and resilience while pitching against one of baseball’s deepest lineups in a hostile road environment.

SportsNet LA shared Klein’s emotional reaction Wednesday night on X, formerly Twitter, a day after the Dodgers reliever recorded the first save of his MLB career.

“It’s been a long road the past few years. To be where we are today is pretty exciting.”

"It's been a long road the past few years. To be where we are today is pretty exciting."

Will Klein speaks with @kirsten_watson after picking up his first career save in last night's 5-4 victory. pic.twitter.com/NwIGURe9sf

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) May 21, 2026

The comments from the right-handed pitcher reflect the emotion surrounding the moment after L.A. trusted him to protect a one-run lead against San Diego late in the game. He responded by shutting the door against a dangerous Padres lineup while helping the Dodgers move back atop the NL West standings entering Wednesday’s series finale.

L.A. also improved to 5-4 vs. the Padres this season with Tuesday’s victory. Klein, a former fifth-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2020, may now be earning a larger opportunity as the team continues searching for dependable late-inning depth behind its veteran bullpen arms. As of this writing, the two teams remain locked in Wednesday night’s series finale, with the Dodgers holding a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning while attempting to secure the final two games of the series after dropping Monday’s opener at Petco Park.

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