Former Phillies, Pirates, and SF Giants catcher Andrew Knapp has signed a minor league contract with the reigning champion Texas Rangers. The reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers have been bolstering their upper minor league depth in recent weeks. The Rangers signed former SF Giants catcher Andrew Knapp to a minor-league contract as part of a flurry of transactions. The agreement includes an invite to Texas’ spring training. Knapp will divide the 2023 season between the Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros. In 97 games between each club’s Triple-A affiliate, he hit.233/.328/.377.
Andrew Knapp has been a consistent presence in Major League Baseball for six consecutive seasons, spanning from 2017 to 2022. During this time, he struggled offensively, holding a career batting average of .209, an on-base percentage of .310, and a slugging percentage of .313 across 873 plate appearances. In 2022, he appeared in 14 games across different teams (Pirates, Mariners, and Giants) but encountered significant challenges at the plate, managing only a paltry .143/.262/.171 triple-slash.
Initially recognized as a promising prospect, Knapp was selected in the 2nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Phillies from Cal. His progression through the minor leagues led to his major league debut with Philadelphia in 2017, where he played in 56 MLB games. However, Knapp hasn’t been known for power hitting throughout his professional career. As a left-handed batter, he focused more on contributing offensively through gap-to-gap power and a disciplined batting approach. Despite sporadic moments of promise, he has generally been regarded as a backup player with limited offensive impact in the majors.
Defensively, Knapp has maintained an average performance behind the plate. However, his struggle to throw out base stealers has been noticeable. While a 30% Caught Stealing rate is typically considered a benchmark for MLB catchers, Knapp’s career mark stands at 19%. Interestingly, his lack of opportunities in the big leagues in the previous season might be attributed to MLB’s new rules favoring base stealing, a realm where Knapp faced challenges. At the Triple-A level last season, he managed to throw out 23% of base stealers.
Over the past two seasons, Knapp has navigated through various minor league contracts, seeking stability in his career. Signing a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers, he aims to return to official MLB action for the first time since his stint with the San Francisco Giants in 2022.
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