George Klassen Named Pacific Coast League Pitcher Of The Month For July
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Minor League Baseball announced today that Salt Lake Bees right-hander George Klassen has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for July. Klassen went 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA in six starts during July, allowing just 10 earned runs on 25 hits and
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Minor League Baseball announced today that Salt Lake Bees right-hander George Klassen has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for July.
Klassen went 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA in six starts during July, allowing just 10 earned runs on 25 hits and 11 walks while striking out 38 over 36.1 innings. He led the Pacific Coast League in innings pitched (36.1), strikeouts (38), WHIP (0.99), opponent batting average (.197) and hits allowed per nine innings (6.19). His 38 strikeouts were 12 more than any other pitcher in the league during the month.
The 24-year-old capped off one of the most dominant months by a Bees pitcher in recent history with five quality starts, the most in Triple-A during July and tied for the most in all of Minor League Baseball alongside Hartford (Double-A) right-hander Jack Mahoney.
Klassen's remarkable month began on July 1 against Las Vegas, when he struck out nine batters over a career-long 7.0 innings, allowing just three hits and one walk. During the outing, he retired 15 consecutive Aviators, including five straight via strikeout. The seven-inning effort marked the longest start by a Salt Lake pitcher during the 2026 season.
He followed that performance with another historic outing on July 7 at Sacramento, carrying a no-hitter through 6.1 innings. Klassen became the first Bees starter to throw at least 6.1 hitless innings since Packy Naughton tossed 7.0 no-hit innings at Las Vegas on May 23, 2021. It also marked the second time this season Klassen had taken a no-hitter at least five innings into a game after carrying one through 5.2 innings on April 25 at Las Vegas, making him the first Salt Lake pitcher since Sean O'Sullivan in 2009 to record multiple starts of at least 5.0 hitless innings in the same season.
Klassen closed the month in dominant fashion, pitching at least six innings in each of his final three starts. On July 19 against Reno, he struck out 11 Aces, recording the Bees' first double-digit strikeout performance of the season and the most by a Salt Lake pitcher since Caden Dana struck out 13 on Aug. 22, 2025, against Reno. Klassen also fanned nine batters through the first four innings, the most by a Bees starting pitcher through four frames in franchise history.
He finished July by allowing no walks while striking out 13 batters over his final two starts against Omaha and Sugar Land, earning quality starts in both outings.
The honor is Klassen's second league award of the season, following his selection as Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for June 30–July 5. It also marks the second Pitcher of the Month award of his professional career, previously earning Florida State League Pitcher of the Month honors in 2024 while pitching for the Clearwater Threshers, the Philadelphia Phillies' Single-A affiliate.
Klassen is the first Salt Lake pitcher to be named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month since Sammy Peralta earned the honor in July 2025.
Originally selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Minnesota, Klassen was acquired by the Los Angeles Angels on July 27, 2024, in a trade that sent Carlos Estévez to the Phillies.
Klassen is scheduled to make his first start of August on Friday, Aug. 7, when the Bees host the Oklahoma City Comets at The Ballpark at America First Square. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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About the Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are in their 25th season as the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels and will remain the organization's top affiliate through the 2030 season. Since joining the Angels organization, Salt Lake has captured five division championships and made two appearances in the Pacific Coast League Finals. The Bees play at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan, Utah.