MADISON — The Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, now have the top three prospects for the Major League Baseball team.
The news comes after two players were assigned to the Trash Pandas on Wednesday – infielder David Mershon and right-handed pitcher George Klassen.
The Trash Pandas roster also features 2024 first-round pick Christian Moore. The three give the Trash Pandas the top prospects for the parent club.
Mershon was drafted by the Angels in the 18th round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Mississippi State. The Taylors, S.C., native has not played at any level of the Angels organization since being drafted.
During his sophomore season in 2024, Mershon hit for a .347 average with six home runs and 41 RBI. Mershon also stole 27 bases which was second in the SEC and tied for fourth in program history. Mershon finished his Mississippi State career with a .329 average, six home runs, 46 RBI, and 61 stolen bases.
He was named First-Team All-SEC shortstop and was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award as the best shortstop in the nation.
Klassen was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Angels alongside left-handed pitcher Samuel Aldegheri for Angels closer Carlos Estévez. After the trade, he made one start for Single-A Inland Empire where earned a win and struck out 10 batters in five innings.
Klassen began his first professional season split between Single-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore in the Phillies organization. In 2024, he has made 15 starts and holds a 1.96 ERA and a 4-2 record while striking out 99 batters in 64.1 innings.
The Phillies drafted him in the sixth round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Minnesota.
Moore was a member of the National Champion Tennessee Vols and named First-Team All-SEC.
In just four games with the Trash Pandas he has already hit three home runs. Moore had a stellar performance against the Birmingham Barons hitting two of those home runs, including a walk-off that brought in two runners in the ninth inning Wednesday night.
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