University of Minnesota Athletics
Klassen Joins Meyer in 2020 MLB Draft Rankings
5/13/2020 10:43:00 AM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS - Incoming freshman right-handed pitcher George Klassen and junior right-handed pitcher Max Meyer have both been ranked in Baseball America's top-500 rankings for the 2020 MLB Draft, which is currently scheduled to be held from June 10-11. Meyer was listed as the No. 10 overall player in the upcoming draft, while Klassen was tabbed as the No. 259 player on the board.
Although Meyer has already been included in various draft rankings over the past several months, being projected to go as highly as No. 4 overall, the news comes as even more noteworthy for Klassen. Among high school prep players eligible for the 2020 draft, Klassen's status as the No. 259 player on the board puts him at No. 44 among high school right-handed pitchers and No. 57 among all prep pitchers.
When Klassen joins the Gophers in Minneapolis this fall, he will do so as the No. 1 pitcher and No. 2 overall player in the state of Wisconsin, according to Perfect Game. Meanwhile, Perfect Game also dubbed Klassen the No. 23 right-handed pitcher in the country and No. 77 overall player in the nation while handing the righty a perfect-10 prospect grade.
During his most recent prep season in 2019, Klassen finished his junior campaign as one of the top hurlers in Wisconsin and was named North Shore All-Conference Honorable Mention. By season's end, the right-hander accumulated 56 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched, allowing only 10 hits in the process.
Despite this year's MLB Draft being cut to just five rounds, Meyer is a lock to hear his name called due to his status as a surefire first round selection. As the No. 10 overall prospect, Meyer is also positioned as the No. 2 right-handed pitcher on the board behind only Emerson Hancock of Georgia. If he is indeed selected within the top ten picks, Meyer will be Minnesota's highest MLB Draft selection since Dan Wilson went seventh overall to the Cincinnati Reds in 1990. If the Gopher ace manages to surpass Wilson, he would become the program's top draft choice since Paul Molitor went third overall in 1977.
No matter where he goes in the first half of round one, Meyer is primed to be the highest-ever drafted Gopher pitcher throughout the program's 132 seasons of play, as long as he is chosen within the first 21 picks in the draft. After a junior season in which he went 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA and 46 strikeouts across just 27 2/3 innings, that achievement appears to only be a matter of time.
Prior to 2020, Meyer owned a 2.09 ERA with 141 strikeouts across 120 1/3 innings from 2018-19 – his first two seasons in Maroon and Gold. Meyer has also locked down 18 career saves, proving he is more than capable of handling roles as both a starter and reliever as he embarks on his professional journey.
Although Meyer has already been included in various draft rankings over the past several months, being projected to go as highly as No. 4 overall, the news comes as even more noteworthy for Klassen. Among high school prep players eligible for the 2020 draft, Klassen's status as the No. 259 player on the board puts him at No. 44 among high school right-handed pitchers and No. 57 among all prep pitchers.
When Klassen joins the Gophers in Minneapolis this fall, he will do so as the No. 1 pitcher and No. 2 overall player in the state of Wisconsin, according to Perfect Game. Meanwhile, Perfect Game also dubbed Klassen the No. 23 right-handed pitcher in the country and No. 77 overall player in the nation while handing the righty a perfect-10 prospect grade.
During his most recent prep season in 2019, Klassen finished his junior campaign as one of the top hurlers in Wisconsin and was named North Shore All-Conference Honorable Mention. By season's end, the right-hander accumulated 56 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched, allowing only 10 hits in the process.
Despite this year's MLB Draft being cut to just five rounds, Meyer is a lock to hear his name called due to his status as a surefire first round selection. As the No. 10 overall prospect, Meyer is also positioned as the No. 2 right-handed pitcher on the board behind only Emerson Hancock of Georgia. If he is indeed selected within the top ten picks, Meyer will be Minnesota's highest MLB Draft selection since Dan Wilson went seventh overall to the Cincinnati Reds in 1990. If the Gopher ace manages to surpass Wilson, he would become the program's top draft choice since Paul Molitor went third overall in 1977.
No matter where he goes in the first half of round one, Meyer is primed to be the highest-ever drafted Gopher pitcher throughout the program's 132 seasons of play, as long as he is chosen within the first 21 picks in the draft. After a junior season in which he went 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA and 46 strikeouts across just 27 2/3 innings, that achievement appears to only be a matter of time.
Prior to 2020, Meyer owned a 2.09 ERA with 141 strikeouts across 120 1/3 innings from 2018-19 – his first two seasons in Maroon and Gold. Meyer has also locked down 18 career saves, proving he is more than capable of handling roles as both a starter and reliever as he embarks on his professional journey.
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