George
Klassen

After just two starts, five innings and 10 walks into the 2023 season Klassen was reassigned into the Gopher pen for week three of the college season. He’s always had an electric arm, and has always struggled finding the zone with consistency. As a prep it was due to a lack of sync with his delivery, but four years later and after Tommy John surgery as a sophomore, it is looking more and more likely that’s just the way it is. His super quick arm generates top of the scale velocity, touching 102 mph this summer in the Northwoods League and 100 mph on my gun (101 on another scout’s gun sitting in front of me) at the Classic. He also shows an emerging 84-85 mph slider, but failed to land any for a strike during his relief appearance against Ole Miss. Although many scouts entered the 2023 season with projections of Klassen as a Day One prospect, he did not show anything other than velocity on this look to warrant that type of consideration. Coming into the season we drew a comparison to Ben Joyce (Tennessee) as far as draft value since both are high velocity right-handers who underwent TJ surgery and returned throwing 100+. Joyce was drafted last summer in the third round, but at this point, Klassen lags behind that spot in the draft.

With lower effort his super quick arm generates top of the scale velocity, touching 102 mph this summer in the Northwoods League and was consistently in the upper-90s this fall back on camps. Klassen also shows an emerging mid-80s slider and improving control and command which is typically the last thing to return after TJ surgery. Although their profiles may differ, the potential draft value could be similar between Klassen and former Tennessee reliever Ben Joyce. The high velocity Volunteer right-hander also underwent TJ surgery and returned throwing 100+. Joyce was drafted this past summer in the third round.

+ The Reds Midwest Scout Team dominated on the mound, striking out 18 batters and allowing just one hit in a 5-1 win. RHP George Klassen (Port Washington HS, WI) started and had a Nuke Laloosh line. In three innings, he walked three and hit three and allowed an unearned run, but struck out nine. From an overhead windup, the Minnesota recruit used a long arm action to produce a lively fastball at 89-92 mph, touching 93, while mixing in a slider at 78-80 that showed wipeout break at times.

Verbally committed to Minnesota. 

Decommitted from Purdue.

Positional Profile: RHP/OF 
Body: 6-foot-1, 160-pounds. Live, quick twitch body, loose levers.
Run: 6.69 runner in the 60. Plus run, loose, light footed.
Hit: RHH. Tall narrow setup, loads hands back, stride has length. Athletic swing, plays uphill, hits in rhythm.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Loose bat speed.
Arm: RH. OF - 98 mph. Plus-plus pure arm speed, loose and over the top, plus-plus carry.
Defense: Raw athletic actions, feet play light through the baseball, soft hands.

Positional Profile: RHP/OF - Dynamic arm with plus arm speed, should project for addition velocity.
Body: 6-foot-1, 160-pounds. Live, quick twitch body, loose levers.
Delivery: Full windup delivery, works slightly across body, lands square, closed toe, athletic finish. 
Arm Action: RH. Electric arm speed, high 3/4 slot, short draw, made significant adjustments on back side.
FB: T92, 90-92 mph. Lively through zone, showed occasional feel.
CB: 79-80 mph. Sharp hard action, fastball arm speed, aggressive and convicted. Above average feel.
CH: 83-86 mph. Straight change, near fastball arm action, aggressive approach to the pitch.

Verbally committed to Purdue.

Uncommitted. Klassen stands 6-foot-1, 150-pounds with a developing frame and a very long wingspan. The right-handed pitcher was up to 90 mph before settling in at 86-88 for much of his outing. Stepping across his body to deliver the firm fastballs, Klassen has quick arm that delivers out of high ¾ window, and when everything synced up, he was very good. At times, he struggled with the ability to repeat his slot, especially out of the stretch. However, when he got rolling, everything worked well. The separator for Klassen will be his tight breaking ball. While the fastball command was sporadic, he seemed to have more confidence in the the 11/5, multi-tier curveball that he threw firmly at 75-77, and was a swing and miss offering multiple times. It is very intriguing to imagine the possibilities of what Klassen may blossom into as he matures and gains comfort with the movement patterns of his long limbs.

Klassen stands 6-foot-1, 150-pounds, lean, wiry-frame with apparent athleticism. Arm is electric, highly athletic, loose and easy. Long draw on the back side, reaching back, arm is athletic and loose enough to get out front quickly, high ¾ slot. At-times, his arm lags behind, leaving the ball up in the zone. Strides towards third, lands toe-closed. Fastball, comes out live, 88-90.97 mph, spin rate 2100-2400 rpm. Curveball, 11/5 shape, aggressive with but still lacks command, 77-78. 

6-foot-1, 150-pound two-way player, lean wiry frame, loose live body, projects best on the mound. Electric arm, loose and live out of high ¾ slot, draws long. Delivery is on line, repeats, squared landing to balanced finish. Fastball has late run to arm side, showed control, topped at 91 mph with plus life for age, sat 88-90 mph. Curveball has improved immensely, thrown aggressive, power pitch with swing and miss stuff, 12/6 plane dropped for strikes, 77-79 mph, plus potential offering. Power changeup, runs to arm side, fastball arm speed, 83-85 mph, plus action down in the zone. Defensively showed off arm strength, 94 mph across the diamond. Hands work steadily, shuffles through long release. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, line drive gap to gap type approach, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.05 runner in the 60.  

6-foot, 150-pound right-handed pitcher, lean projectable frame. Electric arm action, loose quick and easy, highly athletic with easy release out of the hand, high ¾ slot. Lively fastball, arm side action, sat 87-89 mph, touched 90 mph on last pitch. Advanced changeup feel, plus action, 80-84 mph, aggressive arm action. Curveball played with 11/5 shape, 72-75 mph, thrown aggressively but still work in progress. High follow 2020 right-handed pitcher.

5-foot-11, 150-pound, long, wiry, two-way prospect with plenty of room for continued physical development. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, worked a hitless inning while striking out two. Drop and drive, directional, repeatable delivery. Arm works long, loose and whippy and works predominantly out of a high ¾ slot; will lower arm slot at times. Fastball flashes slight arm-side-run, thrown for strikes and sat 81-83 mph, touching 84. Changeup looks to be best secondary offering, fade action, feel, 76-78 mph. Curveball works 11/5, loose action at times, tendency to back up, 72-73 mph. Defensively, had the strongest arm of the event from across the infield, 87 mph. Throws were accurate with carry. Receptive, steady hands, plays through the baseball and clean transfer. Offensively, right-handed hitter, tall setup, maintains balance through contact and stays on top of the baseball. Simple overall swing, line-drive approach and flashed loose hands. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran a 4.32 down-the-line.

4/9/17 - 5-foot-10, 150-pound, two-way prospect with room for physical development. Showed command of his fastball to both sides of the plate. Four seam fastball sat 79-81, touching 82. Two seam sat 77-79 mph. Got stronger as the game went on. Changeup worked mostly straight at 74 mph. Needs to develop secondary pitches.

5-foot-10, 140-pound two-way player, wiry projectable frame, broad shoulders can carry plenty of additional strength. On the mound arm is long and loose with upside, high ¾ slot. Mixes moth four and two seam fastballs, similar actions, two-seam is 80-81 mph, four-seam is 81-83 mph. Changeup is mostly straight, 75-76 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short tight loading action, short stride, average balance. Showed bat speed, slight pull side approach, hands stay tight and inside the baseball. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays long and loose across the diamond, 84 mph across. Hands play and shows athleticism. 7.49 runner in the 60.

3/15/16 - 5-foot-7, 125-pound right-handed hitting 2B/RHP. Defensively has a short, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Accurate throws with carry throwing 73 mph across the infield. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange and fluid footwork. Soft hands with good body control. Offensively hits from a tall, slightly closed setup. Short toe tap stride. Opposite field hitter with an uphill swing path. 74 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.96. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, quick arm action. Tall and fall, slow paced delivery working in line with home plate. Fastball slowed slight sinking action at 71-73 topping out at 74 mph. Changeup sat 68-69 mph.