Angels option Klassen to Triple-A after rough start in Majors
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CINCINNATI – The Angels are hoping George Klassen learns the same lesson that Jack Kochanowicz did in 2024.
Klassen, the No. 4-rated MLB.com Pipeline prospect in the Angels system, has been tagged for seven runs - six earned - on seven hits in 4 ⅔ innings over his first two Major League starts. But that hasn’t been the worst part. He’s walked 10 batters while striking out six.
Klassen left Saturday’s game with a fingernail contusion on the index finger of his throwing hand. Nothing has been going Klassen’s way to start his big league career. He was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after the 7-3 loss to the Reds Saturday.
“Just keep working,” manager Kurt Suzuki said of his conversation with Klassen. “Obviously with Klassen, the stuff’s there. We’ve all seen it. We all talk about it. We still love him. He's just got to get more consistent. That's all. There's really nothing else to it. Just experience, consistency and just pitching.”
Suzuki said Klassen was understandably disappointed but accepting of the assignment to Salt Lake after his first two starts.
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"Really that self-reflection, that acceptance of it, I think it’s huge, especially for younger players,” Suzuki said. “Some players can be like, that's [bull], it's just a couple starts, I'm ready. It's not fair. For George to come in and accept and understand that he still has to work on things, is great. That's what you want to see. It's good for us coming from one of our young pitchers."
It was an experience that did Kochanowicz a world of good in 2024. The right-hander was sent down in July that year after two rough starts. He came back and made five straight quality starts and finished with quality starts in eight of his final nine starts of the season. In August that season, Kochanowicz was 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.
Angels general manager Perry Minasian relayed that anecdote to Klassen before sending him down on Saturday.
"That's what Perry just told him,” Suzuki said. “That's the exact story Perry just told him [Saturday]. It's good that he got roughed up. He learned it's the same game but it's a different speed."