Andrew Knizner

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

Andrew Knizner
Knizner with the Memphis Redbirds in 2019
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 7
Catcher
Born: (1995-02-03) February 3, 1995
Glen Allen, Virginia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 2, 2019, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through May 15, 2023)
Batting average.207
Home runs10
Runs batted in55
Teams

Amateur career

Knizner attended Hanover High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia.[2] 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.[3] After graduating, he attended North Carolina State University where he played college baseball for the NC State Wolfpack.[4] Prior to his sophomore season, he switched from third base to catcher.[5][6] In 2014 and 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Wareham Gatemen.[7][8] 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.[9] After his junior year, Knizner was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[10]

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 (RBI) in 53 games. He was named to the Appalachian League postseason All-Star team.[11] He started 2017 with the Peoria Chiefs and was the starting catcher in the Midwest League All-Star Game.[12] In June, he was promoted to the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, skipping the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals.[13][14]

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.[15] After the season, the Cardinals assigned Knizner to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League (AFL).[16] 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,[17] 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.[18]

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.[19] However, he returned to Springfield on June 9 in order to make room for Carson Kelly on the Memphis roster.[20]

In July, he was selected to represent the Cardinals in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game.[21] In 94 games played between Springfield and Memphis, Knizner slashed .313/.368/.430 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs.[22]

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.[23] At the time of his call up, he was batting .286 with five home runs and 17 RBIs through 37 games with Memphis.[24]

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.[25] He was optioned back to Memphis on June 11,[26] and recalled on July 11.[27] 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.[28] 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.[29] For the 2021 season, Knizner returned as Yadier Molina's backup, taking 161 at-bats over 63 games, slashing .174/.281/.236 with one home run, nine RBIs, and seven doubles.[30]

Knizner saw more playing time in 2022—260 at-bats in 96 games—as Molina dealt with injuries for much of the season, and slashed .215/.301/.300 with four home runs and 25 RBIs.

On January 13, 2023, Knizner agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Cardinals, avoiding salary arbitration.[31] On May 6, it was announced that Knizner would take over as the primary catcher as the Cardinals began to shift Willson Contreras to Designated hitter.[32]

References
  1. St. Louis Cardinals 2020 Busch Stadium Summer Camp Roster. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  2. 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.(subscription required)
  3. "Andrew Knizner - 2014 - North Carolina State University". gopack.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  4. "Knizner and Casey set on ACC path | Sports". richmond.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  5. "NC State catcher adjusts to life behind the plate". Charlotte Observer. May 1, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  6. 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.
  7. "Andrew Knizner". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  8. "#6 Andrew Knizner - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  9. Times-Dispatch, TIM PEARRELL Richmond. "Former Hanover standout Knizner among state players picked in MLB draft Friday". Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  10. Leffler, Charlie. "St. Louis Cardinals draft Andrew Knizner". Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  11. "Postseason All-Star Teams - Appalachian League Content". Appalachian League. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  12. "Chiefs Land Five on All-Star Team". MiLB.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  13. Dave Eminian. "Chiefs catcher Knizner a hit despite 4-0 loss to Cubs - Sports - Journal Star - Peoria, IL". Pjstar.com. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  14. Forde, Mitchell (August 13, 2017). "Class AA catcher Knizner just keeps getting better | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  15. "Andrew Knizner Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  16. Goold, Derrick. "Elite prospects Alcantara, Hicks among eight young Cards headed to AFL". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  17. Joshua Clark. "Cardinals' Knizner named AFL Hitter of the Week". MLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  18. "Cardinals invite 23 non-roster players to Spring Training". Viva El Birdos. 5 February 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  19. "Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Called up to Triple-A". Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  20. "Cardinals Return Knizner to Springfield - The Cardinal Nation". thecardinalnation.com. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  21. "Andrew Knizner, Luis Ortiz join Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  22. "Andrew Knizner Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  23. Stu Durando (May 31, 2019). "Molina is placed on 10-day IL with tendon strain". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  24. Durando, Stu. "Molina placed on injured list; Cardinals add Knizner to roster". stltoday.com.
  25. Hummel, Rick. "Cards notebook: Knizner enjoys solid big-league debut; Reyes roughed up in Memphis". stltoday.com.
  26. 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.
  27. "Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Recalled by Cardinals". CBSSports.com.
  28. "A by-the-numbers look at the Cards' romp".
  29. "Andrew Knizner is confident he can be successful as Cardinals starting catcher if Molina signs elsewhere". 7 January 2021.
  30. "Pack Pros: Former NC State Wolfpack baseball players in MLB and minors".
  31. "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  32. "Cardinals' Andrew Knizner: Temporarily starting behind plate". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
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