ANDREW KNAPP, CATCHER
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Born: November 9, 1991 Height: 6’1″ Weight: 189 Bats: Both Throws: Right Drafted: 2nd Round, 53rd Overall, 2013 (Phillies) How Acquired: Free Agent College: University of California Berkeley Agent: Apex Baseball |
WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE |
The Phillies drafted Knapp in the second round in 2013 as an offense-oriented catcher. Except for a huge half-season in AA, though, he was just a solid hitter in the minors, generally with high K rates. A switch-hitter, in the majors he’s hit .662 against RHPs and just .550 against LHPs. His swing-and-miss problems as a major leaguer have been significant. He’s below average at pitch framing and, as a major leaguer, has thrown out only 19% of base stealers. The Pirates signed him as a free agent at the end of 2022 spring training.
2013 Knapp mostly served as DH in his debut, catching 21 games. He hit reasonably well, although with a lot of strikeouts. Baseball America rated him 24th among Phillies’ prospects. After the season, Knapp injured his throwing elbow and had Tommy John surgery. 2014 Following the surgery, Knapp missed the first month of the season, then went to High A. He served strictly as a DH and struggled to hit. The Phillies moved him down to Low A in early June. In mid-June he began catching occasionally, and did so increasingly as the season went along. He hit well in Low A, although still with a lot of strikeouts. BA ranked him 15th after the season. 2015 The Phillies sent Knapp back to High A, then promoted him to AA at mid-season. He hit just decently in High A, but had a huge half-season in AA. For the first time as a pro, he caught regularly, and he threw out 36% of base stealers. BA ranked him 4th in the Phillies’ system and 96th overall in MLB. 2016 Knapp spent the entire year in AAA and had a season that was more solid than good. He threw out 38% of base stealers and BA ranked him 14th in the system. The Phillies added him to the 40-man roster after the season. 2017 Knapp spent the entire season with the Phillies as their backup catcher, except that he was out from early August to mid-September with a fractured right hand. He continued to hit respectably, with a high walk rate, but he did strike out in a third of his ABs. 2018 Except for a brief injury rehab, Knapp again spent the season in the majors. His contact issues increased and his hitting fell off sharply. 2019 Knapp spent another season in the majors and his troubles making contact continued. 2020 In the pandemic season, Knapp hit well and managed to get the strikeouts down. 2021 Knapp had a very rough season, with his K rate spiking back up. The Phillies outrighted him after the season and he chose free agency. The Reds signed Knapp to a minor league contract. Knapp failed to make Cincinnati’s roster and, at the end of spring training, chose to become a free agent rather than go to the minors. The Pirates signed him and he’ll open the season as their backup catcher. There were 411 players in MLB with 150+ plate appearances in 2021. Among them, the Pirates’ backup catcher Michael Perez was 404th in fWAR and 408th in wOBA. Knapp was 408th in fWAR and 411th in wOBA. Other than extreme cheapness, the team’s major league personnel moves under the current front office have been incoherent and this is another example. UPDATE: Knapp batted a robust .129 in 11 games through mid-May. Once another marginal catcher became available on waivers, the Pirates claimed him and designated Knapp for assignment. |
CONTRACT INFORMATION
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2022: $800,000 2021: $1,100,000 2020: $710,000 2019: $565,000 2018: $548,000 2017: $535,000 |
PLAYER INFORMATION
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Signing Bonus: $1,033,100 MiLB Debut: 2013 MLB Debut: 4/6/2017 MiLB FA Eligible: N/A MLB FA Eligible: 2022 Rule 5 Eligible: N/A Added to 40-Man: 11/18/2016 Options Remaining: N/A MLB Service Time: 5.000 |
TRANSACTIONS
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June 9, 2010: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 41st round, 1235th overall pick. June 7, 2013: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round, 53rd overall pick; signed on June 14. November 18, 2016: Contract purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies. November 5, 2021: Outrighted to AAA by the Philadelphia Phillies; refused assignment and became a free agent. December 1, 2021: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Cincinnati Reds. April 3, 2022: Released by the Cincinnati Reds. April 4, 2022: Signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates. May 16, 2022: Designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates. |