Andrew Knizner

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Andrew Knizner
Andrew Knizner (47701333391) (cropped).jpg
Knizner with the Memphis Redbirds in 2019
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 7
Catcher
Born: (1995-02-03) February 3, 1995 (age 26)
Glen Allen, Virginia
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 2, 2019, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.191
Home runs3
Runs batted in20
Teams

Andrew Robert Knizner (/ˈkɪznər/;[1] born February 3, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career[]

Knizner attended Hanover High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia.[1] During his senior year, he was captain of the school's baseball team while batting .453 with five home runs, leading Hanover to a Virginia Class AAA state championship.[2] After graduating, he attended North Carolina State University where he played college baseball for the NC State Wolfpack.[3] Prior to his sophomore season, he switched from third base to catcher.[4][5] In 2014 and 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Wareham Gatemen.[6][7] As a junior, he batted .292 with six home runs and 30 RBIs, along with compiling a .991 fielding percentage and throwing out 16 of 37 base runners attempting to steal.[8] After his junior year, Knizner was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[9]

Professional career[]

Knizner signed with St. Louis and made his professional debut with the Johnson City Cardinals and posted a .319 batting average with six home runs and 42 runs batted in (RBIs) in 53 games. He was named to the Appalachian League postseason All-Star team.[10] He started 2017 with the Peoria Chiefs and was the starting catcher in the Midwest League All-Star Game.[11] In June, he was promoted to the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, skipping the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals.[12][13]

Knizner finished 2017 with a combined .302 batting average with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in 95 total games between the two clubs, including a .324 batting average in 51 games with Springfield.[14] After the season, the Cardinals assigned Knizner to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League (AFL).[15] He was named the AFL Hitter of the Week the first week of the season after tallying eight hits, two home runs, and five RBIs in 17 at-bats.,[16] and was selected to participate in the Fall Stars Game. Knizner finished the 2017 AFL batting .358 with three home runs, 12 RBIs, and a .940 OPS in 17 games. Knizner was a non-roster invitee to 2018 spring training.[17]

Knizner began 2018 with Springfield and after batting .333/.412/.467 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 27 games, he was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds.[18] However, he returned to Springfield on June 9 in order to make room for Carson Kelly on the Memphis roster.[19]

In July, he was selected to represent the Cardinals in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game.[20] In 94 games played between Springfield and Memphis, Knizner slashed .313/.368/.430 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs.[21]

Knizner returned to Memphis to begin 2019. On May 31, his contract was selected and he was called up to the major leagues for the first time.[22] At the time of his call up, he was batting .286 with five home runs and 17 RBIs through 37 games with Memphis.[23]

He made his major league debut at Busch Stadium on June 2 versus the Chicago Cubs, going 0-3 on the day as the Cardinals defeated Chicago 2-1.[24] He was optioned back to Memphis on June 11,[25] and recalled on July 11.[26] He registered his first major league hit, a double, on July 17 against Chris Archer of the Pittsburgh Pirates as the Cardinals defeated Pittsburgh 6-5. On July 24, he hit his first major league home run, also against the Pittsburgh Pirates, leading St. Louis to a 14-8 win.[27] Knizner finished his 2019 rookie regular season in St. Louis batting .226 with two home runs and seven RBIs over 53 at-bats.

In 2020, Knizner only received 17 at-bats across eight games, recording four hits and four RBIs.[28] For the 2021 season, Knizner returned as Yadier Molina's backup, making 161 at-bats over 63 games, slashing .174/.281/.236 with one home run, nine RBIs, and seven doubles.[29]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Phillips, Michael (July 15, 2018). "For Hanover grad Andrew Knizner, Futures game appearance a tribute to hard work". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "Andrew Knizner - 2014 - North Carolina State University". gopack.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Knizner and Casey set on ACC path | Sports". richmond.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  4. ^ "NC State catcher adjusts to life behind the plate". Charlotte Observer. May 1, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  5. ^ Nick Friar Contributing Writer. "Wareham Gatemen: Andrew Knizner is taking his second position change in three years in stride - Sports - southcoasttoday.com - New Bedford, MA". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  6. ^ "Andrew Knizner". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "#6 Andrew Knizner - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  8. ^ Times-Dispatch, TIM PEARRELL Richmond. "Former Hanover standout Knizner among state players picked in MLB draft Friday". Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  9. ^ Leffler, Charlie. "St. Louis Cardinals draft Andrew Knizner". Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Postseason All-Star Teams - Appalachian League Content". Appalachian League. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Chiefs Land Five on All-Star Team". MiLB.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  12. ^ Dave Eminian. "Chiefs catcher Knizner a hit despite 4-0 loss to Cubs - Sports - Journal Star - Peoria, IL". Pjstar.com. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  13. ^ Forde, Mitchell (August 13, 2017). "Class AA catcher Knizner just keeps getting better | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  14. ^ "Andrew Knizner Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  15. ^ Goold, Derrick. "Elite prospects Alcantara, Hicks among eight young Cards headed to AFL". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  16. ^ Joshua Clark. "Cardinals' Knizner named AFL Hitter of the Week". MLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  17. ^ "Cardinals invite 23 non-roster players to Spring Training". Viva El Birdos. 5 February 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Called up to Triple-A". Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  19. ^ "Cardinals Return Knizner to Springfield - The Cardinal Nation". thecardinalnation.com. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Andrew Knizner, Luis Ortiz join Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Andrew Knizner Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  22. ^ Stu Durando (May 31, 2019). "Molina is placed on 10-day IL with tendon strain". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  23. ^ Durando, Stu. "Molina placed on injured list; Cardinals add Knizner to roster". stltoday.com.
  24. ^ Hummel, Rick. "Cards notebook: Knizner enjoys solid big-league debut; Reyes roughed up in Memphis". stltoday.com.
  25. ^ Jun 11, FOX Sports Midwest; ET, 2019 at 3:33p (June 11, 2019). "Yadi's back: Cardinals activate Molina, return Knizner to Memphis". FOX Sports.
  26. ^ "Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Recalled by Cardinals". CBSSports.com.
  27. ^ "A by-the-numbers look at the Cards' romp".
  28. ^ "Andrew Knizner is confident he can be successful as Cardinals starting catcher if Molina signs elsewhere". 7 January 2021.
  29. ^ "Pack Pros: Former NC State Wolfpack baseball players in MLB and minors".

External links[]

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