George Klassen

Position:
Right-Handed Pitcher
Ht./Wt.:
6-2 / 170
Bats/Throws:
R/R
Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown:
Port Washington, Wis.
High School:
Port Washington HS

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS & AWARDS:
Big Ten Pitcher of the Week (March 20, 2023)
No. 56 2023 MLB Draft Prospect by MLB.com (Dec. 2022)
DI Baseball No. 3 2023 MLB Draft Prospect in the Big Ten (Jan. 2023)
Perfect Game No. 5 2023 MLB Draft Prospect in the Big Ten (Jan. 2023)
Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten (Jan. 2023)
Perfect Game No. 47 Junior in the NCAA (Jan. 2023)
Northwoods League MLB Dreams Showcase Selection (Summer 2022)

Feature Stories:
George Klassen is a work in progress - With a 100 mph fastball

2023 | MLB DRAFT George Klassen was drafted 193rd overall in the 6th round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.

2023 | SUMMER Klassen will be preparing for the 2023 MLB Draft workouts.

2023 | REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE Has posted a 1-7 record with a 5.72 ERA in 2023, making 14 appearances (13 starts) as the Saturday guy · struck out 49 in 53.1 innings, walking 47 with 36 earned runs · allowed just 49 hits as opponents hit just .222 off of him · went five-or-more innings five times, including three Big Ten starts. Game Highlights: Struck out three and gave up three hits and one earned run vs. No. 4 Ole Miss (March 4) · pitched 2.0 scoreless innings vs. SDSU in a team win, allowing one hit and no earned runs (March 8) · struck out eight hitters in 4.1 innings at West Virginia, giving up four earned runs (March 11) · had a career day vs. Houston, striking out eight while walking just two in 7.2 innings while giving up just one hit and no earned runs (March 18) · named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 20 after his performance against Houston · picked up his first win against Creighton, striking out two with three hits allowed in 6.0 innings (March 25) · struck out four and allowed three hits, two earned runs in a no decision at Illinois (April 22) · posted six strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work at Nebraska (April 29) · went 6.0 innings, striking out four with just five hits and one earned run allowed in his team's win over Michigan (May 6) · struck out three in 3.2 innings, giving up three earned runs and four hits vs. Rutgers (May 19).

2022 | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN Appeared in 11 games, starting in four as a redshirt freshman in 2022 · went 0-2 with a 14.09 ERA, striking out eight with 12 earned runs and six hits allowed in 7.2 innings. Game Highlights: Pitched one inning vs. Indiana State, striking out two and allowing one earned run (Feb. 27) · tossed scoreless innings vs. SDSU (April 26) and Michigan State (May 1).

2021 | FRESHMAN Did not appear in game action due to injury.

BEFORE MINNESOTA A 2020 graduate of Port Washington High School · Perfect Game’s No. 1 pitcher and No. 2 overall player in Wisconsin · also ranked by PG as the No. 23 right-handed pitcher in the country and No. 77 overall player nationally while handing him a perfect-10 prospect grade · ranked by Baseball America as the No. 259 player for the 2020 MLB Draft · two-sport athlete in baseball and track & field · 2020 PG/Rawlings Preseason All-American · 2019 PG Third Team All-American · named to six different All-Tournament teams by PG · competed in the 2019 All-American Classic as one of the top-50 high school players in the country · 2019 North Shore All-Conference Honorable Mention · recorded 56 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched as a junior, allowing only 10 hits · competed as a two-way player, registering a team-best 25 hits in 27 games played with a .362 batting average in 2019 · also competed for the GRB Rays and Midwest Reds Scout Team, where he posted a 5-2 mark with 38 strikeouts over 38 innings pitched over the last three seasons.

PERSONAL Native of Port Washington, Wisconsin · son of Jim and Lani Klassen · sister, Sarah, is a student at the University of Minnesota.

WHY MINNESOTA "I chose Minnesota because I felt that it was the best fit for me out of all the choices I had. I also have high respect for the reputation of the coaching staff and the history of the program. I feel that Minnesota will help further develop my baseball career as well as help me grow as a person."