Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 35 | Overall: 40

Klassen is the 2023 version of Ben Joyce, who went in the third round to the Angels last July after hitting 105 mph with his fastball at Tennessee. He missed his first season at Minnesota in 2021 after having Tommy John surgery and worked just 7 2/3 innings last spring, allowing 14 runs and 14 walks. But he touched 100 mph in those brief looks, reached 102 while making progress in the summer Northwoods League and has continued to bring the heat this spring. 

Klassen may have the quickest arm in the entire Draft, producing a fastball that averages 98 mph with running action, and he has reached triple digits in most of his outings. His heater plays below its velocity, however, because it has ordinary shape and he has limited extension and control. He has an 82-86 mph curveball and a sharper 83-88 mph slider, and both can be plus breaking balls when he can command them. He almost never throws his changeup, an upper-80s offering with fade and sink that he can't land in the zone. 

While his arm speed helps him overcome a lack of physicality, Klassen has significant effort in his delivery and has yet to prove he can throw strikes. A well above-average athlete, he made significant strides improving his timing and keeping his mechanics in sync during the fall, when he pounded the zone, but his control has been well below-average again this spring. He still has a lot to prove, especially if he's going to be a starter, but his fastball definitely demands attention. 

Scouting grades:  Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

Klassen pitched sparingly and very ineffectively at Minnesota in 2022 following his Tommy John surgery the previous year. He was a little sharper in the Northwoods League that summer and showed off his premium arm strength back at school in 2023, leading the Phillies to take him in the sixth round. They were cautious during his first full season, sending him to Single-A Clearwater, but he turned out to be a revelation, both in stuff and his ability to command it, and earned a promotion to High-A Jersey Shore. When the Angels traded Carlos Estévez to the Phillies close to the Trade Deadline, they acquired Klassen along with Sam Aldegheri. He was pushed to Double-A and finished the season with a six-inning, no-hit, one-walk, 12-strikeout exclamation point.

A 6-foot-2 right-hander, Klassen has always been able to throw hard, but he took big steps forward in pitch design and feel in 2024. His fastball averaged close to 97 mph last year and hit triple digits. His four-seamer had more ride up in the zone than it did in college and he also used a two-seamer with sink. He has two distinct breaking pitches, and both can be nasty when he commands them: a hard 86-mph curveball and a slider up to 90 mph. He does have a seldom-used upper-80s changeup.

After walking 7.5 per nine innings in his final year at Minnesota, Klassen improved dramatically in keeping his high-effort delivery in sync in his first year as a pro. Even though the walks ticked back up post-trade, his final start of 2024 gives more confidence those gains might be for real. He has a higher ceiling than any pitcher in the system, but also perhaps the highest variance in outcomes.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 

After not pitching at Minnesota in 2021 following Tommy John surgery, Klassen was rarely on the mound upon his return in 2022. He showed off his stuff and a better feel for where it was going in the Northwoods League that summer. His arm strength as a starter back with the Golden Gophers landed him in the sixth round, where the Phillies were able to sign him for just under $300,000. He didn’t pitch after signing, but took a huge step forward -- especially in finding the strike zone -- during his first full season of pro ball and had earned a promotion from Single-A Clearwater to High-A Jersey Shore before being sent to the Angels in the Carlos Estévez deal close to the Trade Deadline.

Klassen has an extremely fast arm, and the right-hander has proven he can light up the radar gun consistently. His fastball sits in the upper 90s and touches triple digits, and while it didn’t have much shape or extension in college, his four-seamer featured more ride up in the zone during his pro debut; he also used a two-seamer effectively. He has thrown both an 82-86 mph curve and a sharper 83-88 mph slider, and both can miss bats when he lands them in the zone. There is an upper-80s changeup in his arsenal, but that arrow typically stays in his quiver. 

An outstanding athlete with almost a bouncy energy on the mound, Klassen’s biggest hurdle as he begins his pro career is his command and control. He walked 7.5 per nine innings at Minnesota a year ago, but he was making impressive strides in terms of staying in sync and on time with his delivery in 2024. There’s a lot of effort there, and the bullpen could still end up being his long-term home, but his gains while throwing more innings in a season than he’s ever amassed has put a huge up arrow next to his name.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 35 | Overall: 40

Klassen is the 2023 version of Ben Joyce, who went in the third round to the Angels last July after hitting 105 mph with his fastball at Tennessee. He missed his first season at Minnesota in 2021 after having Tommy John surgery and worked just 7 2/3 innings last spring, allowing 14 runs and 14 walks. But he touched 100 mph in those brief looks, reached 102 while making progress in the summer Northwoods League and continued to bring the heat this spring, enabling him to land in the sixth round to the Phillies.

Klassen may have the quickest arm in the entire Draft class, producing a fastball that averages 98 mph with running action, and he reached triple digits in most of his outings. His heater plays below its velocity, however, because it has ordinary shape and he has limited extension and control. He has an 82-86 mph curveball and a sharper 83-88 mph slider, and both can be plus breaking balls when he can command them. He almost never throws his changeup, an upper-80s offering with fade and sink that he can't land in the zone. 

While his arm speed helps him overcome a lack of physicality, Klassen has significant effort in his delivery and has yet to prove he can throw strikes. A well-above-average athlete, he made significant strides improving his timing and keeping his mechanics in sync during the fall, when he pounded the zone, but his control was well-below-average again this spring. He still has a lot to prove, especially if he's going to be a starter, but his fastball definitely demands attention.

Awards

FSL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

SOU Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
09/15/2024

SAL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
06/23/2024

FSL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
04/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/06/2025	activated RHP George Klassen.
	02/04/2025	Los Angeles Angels invited non-roster RHP George Klassen to spring training.
	08/07/2024	RHP George Klassen assigned to Rocket City Trash Pandas from Inland Empire 66ers.
	07/30/2024	RHP George Klassen assigned to Inland Empire 66ers from Tri-City Dust Devils.
	07/27/2024	Los Angeles Angels traded RHP Carlos Estévez to Philadelphia Phillies for RHP George Klassen and LHP Samuel Aldegheri.
	07/27/2024	RHP George Klassen assigned to Tri-City Dust Devils.
	06/11/2024	RHP George Klassen assigned to Jersey Shore BlueClaws from Clearwater Threshers.
	06/11/2024	Jersey Shore BlueClaws activated RHP George Klassen.
	04/26/2024	Clearwater Threshers activated RHP George Klassen.
	04/19/2024	Clearwater Threshers transferred RHP George Klassen to the Development List.
	04/03/2024	RHP George Klassen assigned to Clearwater Threshers.
	03/07/2024	Philadelphia Phillies Prospects activated RHP George Klassen.
	08/01/2023	RHP George Klassen assigned to FCL Phillies.
	08/01/2023	FCL Phillies activated RHP George Klassen.
	07/18/2023	Philadelphia Phillies signed RHP George Klassen.
	06/15/2023	RHP George Klassen assigned to College Workout.
	02/25/2023	College Workout activated RHP George Klassen. Minnesota Golden Gophers.
	02/24/2023	Minnesota Golden Gophers activated RHP George Klassen.
	02/24/2023	RHP George Klassen assigned to Minnesota Golden Gophers.
	09/15/2021	Minnesota Golden Gophers activated RHP George Klassen.
	08/08/2019	RHP George Klassen assigned to PG West.
	08/08/2019	RHP George Klassen assigned to PG West.