Angels Rookie Klassen's Second Start Falls Apart After Finger Injury in Third

George Klassen's sophomore big league appearance didn't go the way the Los Angeles Angels were hoping. The rookie right-hander lasted just three innings Saturday against Cincinnati before a bruised nail on his right index finger forced him out of the game. By that point, the damage was already done: Angels were down 5-1, and Klassen had already surrendered five runs on five hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts.

A Rough Outing Gets Worse

Klassen threw 72 pitches in his brief stint, including a solo home run to Spencer Steer that made the deficit even steeper. For a guy making only his second appearance in the majors, the Cincinnati offense figured him out early and often. The finger injury basically ended what was shaping up to be a disaster anyway, though the timing meant the Angels could cut their losses before bleeding more runs.

Still Finding His Way

This was Klassen's second start of the season. He didn't get a decision in his major league debut on April 5 against Seattle, so he was still hunting for his first win at this level. He was the first Angels starter to debut since left-hander Mitch Farris back on September 2 last year in Kansas City. Klassen came to Los Angeles in a July 2024 trade from Philadelphia, sent over along with left-hander Sam Aldegheri in exchange for right-hander Carlos Estévez. The Angels grabbed him as a sixth-round pick in the amateur draft before that deal.

The finger injury is something to monitor, but right now Klassen has bigger fish to fry. He needs to prove he can get through a start without getting shelled. The Angels will be watching closely to see if he can bounce back and give them more than three innings next time around.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.