The Phillies might have the next big pitching prospect hidden in the low minors.
Is George Klassen, the Phillies’ No. 29 prospect, the next great pitcher?
Did the Philadelphia Phillies steal the 2023 MLB Draft by selecting right-handed pitcher George Klassen with the 193rd pick in the sixth round from the University of Minnesota?
Klassen was recently voted Florida State League Pitcher of the Month at Low-A Clearwater following a great run of performances on the mound in April, so it’s certainly looking that way.
Klassen, 22, was largely a relief pitcher in college before the Phillies moved him to a starter this season. During his first five outings in Clearwater, he has been making waves with a three-pitch combination that has Single-A hitters looking outmatched. Klassen’s early season record of 2-0 with a 0.36 ERA, 29 strikeouts in 25 innings, and 0.72 WHIP are beginning to catch the attention of talent evaluators and other MLB teams.
Do the Phillies have anything exceptional here?
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Klassen’s 97.1 mph fastball has proven too much for Single-A batters in the Florida Complex League. Although he was scratched from his last start due to shoulder tightness, the teenager is generating enough attention that Phillies minor league pitching coordinator Travis Hergert has recently fielded a slew of questions about the talented right-handed pitcher.
“A lot of people are asking me about him,” Hergert told Zolecki.
Hergert believes Klassen’s work ethic has helped him adjust to his first extensive experience pitching in professional baseball. Klassen, currently regarded as the Phillies’ No. 29 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been eager to go to any length to develop since his draft in 2023.
“George is incredibly talented,” Hergert continued. “He’s quite raw. He’s a really hard worker. He is still learning pitching with us, but he is an excellent student. “He improves every day and every time out.”
While the news of Klassen’s shoulder discomfort on Saturday should not be overlooked, it is encouraging that the Phillies now have another young arm to join top prospects Andrew Painter and Mick Abel as young pitchers who appear to have a good chance of becoming major parts of the Phillies’ big league rotation in the future.
The Phillies recognized Klassen’s three-pitch combination as rotation-worthy.
According to Thomas Nestico, who analyzes pitching statistics, the Phillies felt confident enough in Klassen’s three proven pitches to begin his career in the starting rotation with Single-A Clearwater. So far, the results indicate that the Phillies made the correct option.
But what is it about Klassen’s three-pitch repertoire that makes been so dominant at this early stage of his career?
According to Nestico, Klassen’s three-pitch arsenal includes a four-seam fastball that averages 96-98 mph and has the velocity to get hitters out at practically any level of professional baseball. His curveball drops 10-12 mph and is an effective tool for disrupting opposing batters’ timing. The 89-92 mph cutter offers him another look; it still comes in strong but is four to six mph slower than his four-seam fastball.
It’s too early to say what kind of pitching prospect George Klassen is for the Phillies. Now that the Phillies have another arm to follow Andrew Painter and Mick Abel, Klassen’s growth will be another thing to keep an eye on, as the Phillies’ minor league system is producing some very exciting young talent at all levels.
