JKR exclusive news story
In a move set to bolster its commitment to youth development, Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball scouting service, announced today that they have named former major league All-Star Ryan Klesko as Special Assistant to Ownership. Klesko will work closely with Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger to spearhead new initiatives aimed at equipping the next generation of players with enhanced nutrition, training and recovery techniques.
Klesko, 52, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new position from his illustrious 16-year major league career with the Atlanta Braves (1992-99), San Diego Padres (2000-06) and San Francisco Giants (2007). Throughout his career, the lefty slugger batted .279 with 343 doubles, 278 home runs, 987 RBI and an .870 OPS. His accolades include being selected to the 2001 National League All-Star team and contributing to the success of seven playoff teams, including the 1995 World Series Champion Atlanta Braves.
The former outfielder and first baseman has been around Perfect Game for several years, helping coach some of the top young players in the country at the PG Select Fest and other events. When Thurman approached him at a recent event asking for ways to improve their organization, Klesko’s thoughts instinctively gravitated towards an observation he made while watching his 15-year-old son, Hunter, play at a younger age.
“My son was 8 or 9 years old, eating fast food and being out in the heat for four or five hours. My number one concern is my son’s safety and health being able to go out there and perform as an athlete,” Klesko explained over the phone. Parents often approached the former big leaguer, asking for tips on managing arm soreness, and he was certain that their poor diet between doubleheaders was contributing to their kids’ burnout. “If the body doesn’t have the right nutrition, what’s it going to start doing? It’s going to start breaking down. We’re going to start pulling muscles and hurting ourselves…I just went out there and loved training the kids because the way I look at it, I would have never made it as far as I did without someone helping me.”
Klesko grew up playing in similar events in front of scouts, despite the absence of Perfect Game back then. His mother worked two jobs and cleaned houses on the weekends so she could afford to take him to hitting and pitching lessons behind Angel Stadium in Anaheim. She even wore catcher’s gear and caught Ryan’s bullpens when he was throwing as hard as 85 mph. Her sacrifices and the early guidance of his Little League coach paid off with 52 scholarship offers by his senior year of high school. Despite being drafted as a pitcher by the Braves in the fifth round of the 1989 Draft, an arm injury led him to transition to hitting. He went on to belt at least 21 home runs in eight of his 16 MLB seasons and left the yard in three consecutive games during the 1995 World Series.
Since retiring from playing in 2008, Klesko has dedicated his time to helping young players in similar situations receive those same opportunities. He likened the process to refining a golf swing: he could go to the range and hit golf balls every day, but he would likely never go pro unless someone was there to help fix the flaws in his swing. Regardless of team affiliation, the former All-Star mentors kids nationwide.
“I’ve never charged for a lesson,” Klesko said, specifying that he only accepts paid gigs when he is asked to speak to hundreds of players at hitting academies. “I was blessed enough to make a good living playing baseball and my job is to give back what the game gave to me. The earlier help that I can get these kids, the better.”
Last year, Klesko launched the Atlanta Braves scout team with that same mission in mind. He leads the 15U team, alongside former big leaguers Mark DeRosa and José Contreras, who oversee the 14U and 16U teams. Together, they hosted a fundraiser event, attended by country singer Jason Aldean and Georgia Bulldogs head football coach Kirby Smart, supporting families within their program who are unable to cover expenses for uniforms, equipment and tournaments. Over the past six months, Klesko has been in discussions with Division I and junior colleges, aiming to secure more exposure and potential scholarship opportunities for his players. This year, his team will play games at Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Georgia Southern.
“To make him an official part of our organization was a no-brainer,” Perfect Game Chairman Rick Thurman stated in a press release. “Ryan’s passion and energy in assisting kids in all facets of their baseball journey is obvious within just a few moments of being around him. He has an unmatched commitment to player development and the athletes in our program have benefited greatly from his presence and will continue to do so.”
Since 2019, Klesko has occasionally filled in as a pre-game and post-game analyst for the Braves on Fox Sports South and SportsSouth. While he anticipates continuing this role, he intends to increase his presence at Perfect Game events in light of his new position. His primary focus is to uphold the standards of Perfect Game’s training staff and processes. While recognizing that technology has advanced and everyone has different techniques, he also highlighted the prevalence of harmful advice within the sport.
“We want to make sure that the training, weightlifting and nutrition we put out there has been approved by professionals, doctors, everything we can,” Klesko said. “I didn’t have a whole lot of instruction when I was a kid and I honestly can tell you about 80% of the kids that I start working with, they don’t have the foundation to make it to the next level. So if I can just give those kids a little bit better foundation, a little bit better health advice and keep their bodies from getting injured, then I’ve done my job.”