Cards' Knizner carries momentum into AFL
When Andrew Knizner was growing up, he was a shortstop. Always."I never thought I would ever catch a day in my life," the Cardinals' No. 27 prospect said with a laugh. "Never thought I would be behind the plate, putting on the gear every inning."
When Andrew Knizner was growing up, he was a shortstop. Always.
"I never thought I would ever catch a day in my life," the Cardinals' No. 27 prospect said with a laugh. "Never thought I would be behind the plate, putting on the gear every inning."
Before he put the gear on, Knizner made his first move around the diamond during his freshman year at North Carolina State because the Wolfpack already had a promising shortstop -- current big leaguer Trea Turner.
So Knizner moved to third, and the transition went smoothly as the Virginia native earned All-American honors at the hot corner. But with another season, came another move. With a shortage of catchers, Knizner was asked to move behind the plate, and there he remained for his final two college seasons.
"I'm not going to sit here and lie -- the transition was definitely tough, going from infield to behind the plate," he said. "But now that I'm in the swing of it and starting to get really good defensively, it's actually a fun position."
When the 2016 Draft rolled along, the Cardinals selected him in the seventh round as a catcher. As he continues to adjust to the position, Knizner has also gotten some reps at first base, playing 22 of his 148 pro games there.
"They haven't really talked to me too much about playing first base or changing positions. I think it's sort of, if you can catch, you're able to play another position," he said. "Especially being a converted guy, going back to the infield is pretty easy. So I think they want the majority of my focus to be behind the plate, because that's where I feel like my future is. But it's also nice to be versatile and be able to play other positions, like first base and even third base."
Through his first two Minor League seasons as a catcher, Knizner has thrown out 45 percent of would-be baserunners (35-for-77). After nine passed balls in 21 games with Rookie-level Johnson City last year, the 22-year-old had three in 75 games between Class A Peoria and Double-A Springfield this season.
"The hardest part for me was always blocking, and it's still something I'm working on now," he said. "The other thing is the physical aspect of being a catcher, squatting down the entire game and building your legs up. It's not bad though.
"Once you get used to catching, it's really easy and it's fun to be involved every pitch and to call games and work with the pitching staff."
Knizner has also made big strides at the plate this year. His .302 average ranked second among full-season players in the system -- to go along with his 12 homers and 51 RBIs. What's more, Knizner was hitting .279 in 44 games in the Midwest League before the Cardinals decided to have him skip Class A Advanced Palm Beach and head to the Texas League. The right-handed hitter ended up batting .324 in 51 games after the jump.
"It was a surprise, but I feel like they felt I was ready, mature enough to play at that level of competition, and I ended up having a better season in Double-A than I was having in low A," he said. "It took me a little bit of time, little bit of an adjustment period, but once I adjusted to the competition, I was pretty good."
Now in the Arizona Fall League, Knizner continues to work with Springfield hitting coach Jobel Jimenez on pitch selection and sticking with the approach that worked with the Cardinals. So far, it's paid off as Knizner earned an AFL Player of the Week award after going 8-for-17 with two homers and five RBIs over four games.
Aside from his work in the field, Knizner got the chance to see the Grand Canyon with his dad, Mike, noting that it was "absolutely unbelievable" and that pictures don't do it justice.
Knizner said he tries not to think about filling the tremendous hole that will be replacing St. Louis veteran Yadier Molina behind the plate when he eventually retires. But with Cardinals No. 2 prospect Carson Kelly already getting reps at Busch Stadium, it would make sense for Knizner to have first base as another ticket to St. Louis.
Right now, Knizner is splitting his time in the Fall League between first base and catching, though he isn't sure if that's a request the Cardinals specifically relayed to Saguaros manager Spike Owen.
"I don't know the reasoning behind the breakdown," he said. "I just go out there and play, wherever they put me."
Kelsie Heneghan is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @Kelsie_Heneghan.
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.