George Klassen Stats & Scouting Report

IP	40.1
ERA	5.36
WHIP	1.410
BB/9	3.1
SO/9	10.9

Full name George Edward Klassen
Born 01/26/2002 in West Bend, WI
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Minnesota
Drafted in the 6th round (193rd overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 (signed for $297,500).

View Draft Report

School: Minnesota Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
Klassen is one of the hardest throwers in the 2023 draft class and wowed scouts with his pure velocity in 2022 with Minnesota and during the summer in the Northwoods League, with a fastball that’s been above 100 mph at peak velocity. Klassen is still looking to refine his strike-throwing, though he managed a significant step forward in 2023 after walking a quarter of the batters he faced in a brief bullpen stint in 2022. He posted a 5.72 ERA in 56.2 innings, with an 18.6% strikeout rate and a 17.9% walk rate. Those numbers don’t give the 6-foot-2, 170-pound righthander credit for his arm talent, which is impressive. He averaged 97-98 mph on his fastball this spring, and touched 101 mph at peak velocity. Klassen threw the pitch for strikes less than 60% of the time, which limited its effectiveness, as could his moderate shape on the pitch. He also has a firm breaking ball in the mid 80s that has three-quarter shape and flashes an average look when he doesn’t leave it hanging, and he showcased a solid cutter in the upper 80s during the 2023 MLB Draft Combine which had short and hard glove-side movement. Klassen needs to improve his control and command across the board, and is a reliever-only prospect because of that, but his huge velocity provides an intriguing upside play.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Klassen missed his freshman year at Minnesota after having Tommy John surgery and pitched sparsely as a sophomore. He cracked the Golden Gophers’ rotation as a junior but struggled to throw strikes. The Phillies took a flier on his alluring arsenal in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Shut down after the draft with back spasms, Klassen made his pro debut in 2024 with colossal strike-throwing improvements leading to a combined 1.97 ERA and 37.9% strikeout rate across two Class A affiliates before being dealt with Sam Aldegheri to the Angels for Carlos Estevez at the trade deadline.

Scouting Report: Klassen is a lean, athletic 6-foot-2 righthander with electric stuff and midrotation upside after making strides with his mechanics and control. With elite arm speed, his fastball sits in the upper 90s and has hit triple digits with improved life on both his four-seam and two-seam. Klassen added a knockout upper-80s slider to his arsenal to contrast the velocity of his mid-80s power curveball. Both breaking pitches have similar depth and sweep. He has better command of the slider. He also added an upper-80s cutter with shorter break that flashes above-average. Klassen has a well below-average upper-80s changeup he rarely uses. The Phillies helped the athletic Klassen simplify his delivery to create more stability, eliminate some crossfire and clean up his arm path, which improved his control substantially. Klassen still needs to improve his command and effort.

The Future: Klassen will be given a chance to crack the Angels’ rotation out of spring training in 2025. To do so—and to reach his midrotation ceiling—he’ll have to prove his improved control was not a fluke. His multiple plus offerings give him late-inning relief upside as a fallback.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 30 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 45.
BA Grade: 40/High

Track Record: Klassen was taken by the Phillies in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, then signed for $297,500. He missed his freshman season with Minnesota after having Tommy John surgery, pitched out of the Golden Gophers’ rotation in his draft year, then was shut down after signing. He dealt with back spasms after turning pro and will make his debut in 2024.

Scouting Report: The Phillies chose Klassen knowing he was going to be a bit of a project, but his pure stuff was too loud to overlook. He was one of the hardest throwers in the college class, with a fastball that sat in the upper 90s and touched triple-digits. He pairs the fastball with a potentially plus slider with depth and sweep in the mid 80s that should be his best offspeed weapon as a pro. In college, his primary breaking ball was a low-80s curveball with a similar shape to his slider. He pitched at the MLB Draft Combine and showed a hard, high-80s cutter as well. Klassen rounds out his mix with a seldom-thrown changeup in the high 80s. The Phillies made some small tweaks to his delivery and arm action in the hopes of more consistent strike throwing.

The Future: Klassen will be developed as a starter initially but could make for a solid fallback option in the bullpen if he doesn’t take to the role.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 30 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 40

Draft Prospects

School: Minnesota Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
Klassen is one of the hardest throwers in the 2023 draft class and wowed scouts with his pure velocity in 2022 with Minnesota and during the summer in the Northwoods League, with a fastball that’s been above 100 mph at peak velocity. Klassen is still looking to refine his strike-throwing, though he managed a significant step forward in 2023 after walking a quarter of the batters he faced in a brief bullpen stint in 2022. He posted a 5.72 ERA in 56.2 innings, with an 18.6% strikeout rate and a 17.9% walk rate. Those numbers don’t give the 6-foot-2, 170-pound righthander credit for his arm talent, which is impressive. He averaged 97-98 mph on his fastball this spring, and touched 101 mph at peak velocity. Klassen threw the pitch for strikes less than 60% of the time, which limited its effectiveness, as could his moderate shape on the pitch. He also has a firm breaking ball in the mid 80s that has three-quarter shape and flashes an average look when he doesn’t leave it hanging, and he showcased a solid cutter in the upper 80s during the 2023 MLB Draft Combine which had short and hard glove-side movement. Klassen needs to improve his control and command across the board, and is a reliever-only prospect because of that, but his huge velocity provides an intriguing upside play.
Without a spring season to speak of, Klassen is more likely to make it to Minnesota. One of the best arms in a talented Wsiconsin high school class, Klassen has a fast arm, although there’s some effort involved, with a head whack. He’ll sit 90-93 mph with his fastball that shows solid late life. The 6-foot-2, 165-pounder has not fully grown into his frame--there’s some reason to think that he’ll be more consistent in his strike-throwing and lower the effort level in his delivery as he gets stronger. Klassen’s 77-82 mph curve has some power to it and solid bite, but like his fastball he needs to locate it more consistently. Klassen’s control is currently well below average but has room for improvement.

Career Transactions

Los Angeles Angels invited non-roster RHP George Klassen to spring training.
RHP George Klassen assigned to Rocket City Trash Pandas from Inland Empire 66ers.
RHP George Klassen assigned to Inland Empire 66ers from Tri-City Dust Devils.
RHP George Klassen assigned to Tri-City Dust Devils.
Los Angeles Angels traded RHP Carlos Estévez to Philadelphia Phillies for RHP George Klassen and LHP Samuel Aldegheri.
Jersey Shore BlueClaws activated RHP George Klassen.
RHP George Klassen assigned to Jersey Shore BlueClaws from Clearwater Threshers.
Clearwater Threshers activated RHP George Klassen.
Clearwater Threshers transferred RHP George Klassen to the Development List.
RHP George Klassen assigned to Clearwater Threshers.
FCL Phillies activated RHP George Klassen.
RHP George Klassen assigned to FCL Phillies.
Philadelphia Phillies signed RHP George Klassen.
College Workout activated RHP George Klassen. Minnesota Golden Gophers.
RHP George Klassen assigned to Minnesota Golden Gophers.