George Klassen

George Edward Klassen

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
• School University of Minnesota
• High School Port Washington (WI) High School
• Debut April 5, 2026

• Born January 26, 2002 in West Bend, WI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher George Klassen was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 6th round of the 2023 amateur draft from the University of Minnesota. This was a pick based on potential more than on performance, as in two seasons with the Gophers, he had gone a combined 1-9 with ERAs of 14.09 and 5.72. That potential was embodied in a fastball that sometimes touched 100 mph, even if he did not yet have full control of the pitch. He had missed the entire 2021 college season with an injury after having been ranked the best high school pitcher in the state of Wisconsin the year before.

He began his professional career in 2024, but a mid-season trade to the Los Angeles Angels resulted in his appearing for four different teams that year. Her started off in the Florida State League with the Clearwater Threshers where he was dominant in 9 starts, going 2-0, 0.71 with 57 strikeouts in 38 innings. He was then promoted to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League and made 5 starts before the July 27th trade that sent closer Carlos Estévez from the Angels to the Phillies in return for George and P Sam Aldegheri. He was first assigned to the Inland Empire 66ers of the California League, going back to Class A, but for just one start, before being promoted all the way to the AA Rocket City Trash Pandas of the Southern League on August 7th. He made 7 starts there, finishing the year with a combined record of 6-5, 3.10 in 22 games - all starts. He logged 93 innings during which he struck out 135 and walked 46. He had been the Pitcher of the Month in the FSL in April and was named to that circuit's post-season All-Star team, and also won Pitcher of the Week honors once each at Jersey Shore and Rocket City.

In 2025, he went 4-12, 5.22 in 25 starts, but there were some silver linings to his lopsided win/loss record. He was named to the American League team for the 2025 Futures Game, and on September 16th he was promoted to the AAA Salt Lake Bees where his only start was a good one - six innings of tweo-run ball in which he struck out 8 and walked just one. Overall, in 108 2/3 innings, he struck out 134 batters and walked 47, a sign that he had some very good stuff that he just needed to harness fully. He started the 2026 season in the minors but received an emergency call to Anaheim on April 5th when the Angels' scheduled starter that day, Ryan Johnson, had taken ill and he had to start in his place against the Seattle Mariners. It wasn.t the greatest of outings, as he allowed 3 hits and 5 walks in 2 2/3 innings, leading to 2 runs, but he ended up with a no-decision.

Related Sites

• George Klassen on mlb.com
• BR Minors page
• University of Minnesota bio