Recently promoted Phillies top prospect already dominating hitters in High-A

Top pitching prospects Andrew Painter and Mick Abel get a lot of attention as future pieces to the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation, but the team's No. 28 prospect, George Klassen, is turning heads in his first full MiLB season.

Recently promoted Phillies top prospect already dominating hitters in High-A

Klassen was promoted to High-A Jersey Shore on June 11 and has continued his success from Low-A Clearwater. The 2023 sixth-round pick started nine games for Clearwater to begin his minor league career, posting a 0.71 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP in 38 innings pitched.

Klassen’s first two starts with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws have gone well, posting a 2.00 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP in nine innings pitched including five no-hit innings in an 8-0 win against the Brooklyn Cyclones on June 22.

The right-hander was awarded the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for his recent success with Jersey Shore to go along with being named the Phillies’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April while still with Clearwater.

Klassen has been dominating hitters through his first 11 starts, allowing a .143 batting average against and recording 70 strikeouts to this point.

The 22-year-old was set to begin his collegiate career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2021 but missed the season due to Tommy John surgery. He was used as more of a relief pitcher during his redshirt freshman season in 2022, appearing in 11 games and only starting in four while posting a 14.09 ERA. Klassen made 13 starts in 14 appearances in 2023, posting a 5.72 ERA before preparing for the MLB Draft.

Klassen has an impressive three-pitch mix with an electric fastball that can reach 100 mph. It’s encouraging to the Phillies organization to have a young pitcher experiencing so much success early on in his career who also has the mentality to keep improving any way he can.

With the MLB trade deadline just over a month away, the Phillies could have an intriguing piece if the club wants to go after a big name such as Luis Robert Jr. to improve their chances at a World Series Championship in 2024.

Regardless, the Phillies have a trio of young and talented pitchers for the future in Klassen, Painter and Abel.