Andrew Knizner
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 19 2025Knizner is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Patrick Bailey returning from the injured list Wednesday, Knizner looks set to move back into the No. 2 role at catcher. While Bailey was on the shelf for the minimum 10 days, Knizner made six starts in eight games and went 2-for-18 with a solo home run, one walk and an additional run.
Jun 15 2025Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Logan Porter will fill in behind the plate while Knizner takes a seat after starting in five of the Giants' previous six games. Knizner is likely to continue seeing the bulk of the work at catcher while top backstop Patrick Bailey (neck) is on the injured list.
Jun 13 2025Knizner went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-2 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner went yard in the eighth inning to restore a four-run lead for the Giants, and the homer was his first hit in five games. He's now 1-for-15 (.067) with a walk and two runs scored over five contests. Knizner is operating as the starting catcher while Patrick Bailey (neck) is out, but his relatively unimpressive career numbers make Knizner an unattractive option for most fantasy formats.
Jun 12 2025Knizner is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner will take a seat for Thursday's matinee after he had started behind the plate in each of the Giants' last three games. Logan Porter will get the nod at catcher in the series finale, but Knizner is expected to operate as the Giants' top backstop while Patrick Bailey (neck) is on the injured list. Since joining the Giants on June 4, Knizner has gone 1-for-11 with a walk over 12 plate appearances.
Jun 4 2025The Giants selected Knizner's contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner inked a minor-league deal a couple weeks ago and has been added to the big-league roster after going 11-for-30 in eight games with Sacramento. He'll take over backup catcher duties behind Patrick Bailey.
May 21 2025Knizner signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner was let go by the Nationals on Saturday after turning in a 1.016 OPS across 91 plate appearances with their Triple-A affiliate, and he'll now look to work his way up to the majors with the Giants. San Francisco hasn't gotten much production from Patrick Bailey (.474 OPS) or Sam Huff (.534) this season, so Knizner could be back in the big leagues relatively soon if he keeps hitting well.
May 17 2025The Nationals released Knizner on Saturday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner has been phenomenal at Triple-A Rochester this season, slashing .382/.516/.500 with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored across 91 plate appearances. The 30-year-old backstop had the ability to opt out of his minor-league deal this weekend, so he'll now enter free agency and presumably pursue a major-league contract, given how well he's done in the minors.
Sep 14 2024The Diamondbacks designated Knizner for assignment Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner has remained in the minors throughout the duration of his time in the D-backs organization, slashing .274/.357/.397 with 12 RBI across 84 plate appearances. He'll now be stripped of his spot on the 40-man roster, which will be handed to Brandon Hughes, and the 29-year-old Knizner may attract interest on the waiver wire from other teams in need of depth behind the plate.
Aug 8 2024The Diamondbacks claimed Knizner off waivers from the Rangers on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Reno. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner was DFA'd by Texas on Tuesday after posting a .394 OPS in 93 big-league plate appearances. He'll now join the Diamondbacks organization and serve as an organizational depth piece at Triple-A Reno, though his chances of appearing in a game for Arizona are slim. Luis Frias was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Aug 6 2024The Rangers designated Knizner for assignment Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner will make room for Tyler Mahle on the 40-man roster after Mahle was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Knizner slashed .167/.183/.211 in 93 plate appearances for the Rangers and could garner some interest on waivers from catcher-needy teams.
Jul 29 2024The Rangers optioned Knizner to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner lost his spot on the 26-man active roster after the Rangers acquired Carson Kelly from the Tigers on Sunday to serve as the new No. 2 catcher behind Jonah Heim. Knizner has slashed a lowly .167/.183/.211 with one home run and nine RBI across 93 plate appearances in the big leagues this season.
Jul 21 2024Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner will be back on the bench for the series finale after he started behind the dish in Saturday's 8-4 loss while going 1-for-3 with two RBI. He remains the Rangers' clear No. 2 backstop behind Jonah Heim.
Jun 17 2024Knizner is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Sam Huff will step in behind the dish in the series opener after Knizner started at catcher in all three of the Rangers' games in Seattle over the weekend while going 1-for-9. Top backstop Jonah Heim (personal) is on track to return from the paternity list Tuesday, so Knizner will soon move back to second on the depth chart and see his playing time trend toward.
Jun 16 2024Knizner will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner will be making his third consecutive start, but his time as the Rangers' No. 1 catcher should be short-lived. Jonah Heim (personal) was placed on the paternity list Saturday and will rejoin the team no later than Tuesday.
Jun 2 2024Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner will be back on the bench after he started at catcher in Saturday's 7-0 win, finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run. The start was just his second in the Rangers' last 11 games, as Knizner continues to receive limited playing time behind No. 1 backstop Jonah Heim.
Apr 22 2024Knizner went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's 6-4 win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner's three-run blast in the fourth inning helped erase Atlanta's early 3-0 lead. It was his first home run of the season and just his second hit. Knizner started for a second straight game and is filling in for Jonah Heim, who is currently on the bereavement list.
Mar 17 2024Knizner went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's spring game against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner swatted his second Cactus League home run and is 6-for-23 (.261) with four extra-base hits and 10 RBI over eight spring games. He entered the game in the fourth inning as the designated hitter, but Knizner's shaping up to be the primary backup at catcher to Jonah Heim.
Jan 11 2024Knizner signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner was non-tendered by the Cardinals this offseason but managed to land a relatively substantial major-league deal with Texas. It's unclear how he'll fit in on a depth chart that also includes Jonah Heim, Sam Huff and Andrew Knapp, though Knizner should have the chance to win the backup role behind Heim in spring training.
Sep 11 2023Knizner went 1-for-3 with one RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner's RBI single in the fourth inning was the only hit for the Cardinals in the contest. The catcher had gone 0-for-17 across his previous five games, dating back to Aug. 25. He's slashing .242/.287/.442 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored and two steals over 203 plate appearances. Knizner's playing time is likely to remain limited as he works in a backup role to Willson Contreras.
Aug 22 2023Knizner went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Monday's 11-1 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner's fifth-inning blast was all the offense the Cardinals could put on the board. He reached the 10-homer mark for the first time in his career, and five of them have come in 17 games since the All-Star break, a span in which he's hitting .345 (19-for-55). The catcher has added 28 RBI, 26 runs scored, eight doubles, one stolen base and a .267/.313/.497 slash line over 52 contests this year.
Aug 10 2023Knizner went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 5-2 victory versus the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner got the scoring started in the contest, belting a two-run shot in the fourth inning. He added a single for his fourth multi-hit effort over his past seven games. Knizner has been red-hot during that stretch, notching at least one hit in each contest and posting a .444 batting average along with four homers, nine RBI and five runs.
Jul 27 2023Knizner went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Thursday's loss to the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After replacing Willson Contreras (head) in the first inning, Knizner provided a lone bright spot for St. Louis in a lopsided 10-3 loss, driving in all three runs with a pair of homers. The 28-year-old catcher has three home runs in his last two games, giving him a career high of eight for the season. He's now slashing .234/.258/.469 with 23 RBI and 21 runs scored across 133 plate appearances this year. Contreras is expected to be ready to rejoin the Cardinals lineup Friday, though Knizner has certainly made a case for an expanded role.
Jul 16 2023Knizner (groin) was activated from the 10-day injured list and will start Sunday's game against the Nationals, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals will roll with three catchers for the time being, as Ivan Herrera remains on the roster despite Knizner's return. Knizner has popped a career-high five home runs, but even so his performance has graded out as replacement level across 35 games so far this season. He has negative fWAR for his career.
Jul 15 2023Knizner (groin) will not be activated from the injured list Saturday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite being cleared to return Friday, Knizner will remain on the injured list through Saturday as the Cardinals contemplate keeping three catchers on the active roster. With Willson Contreras firmly in the starting spot, a decision to cut down to two backstops would send either Knizner or Ivan Herrera down to Triple-A Memphis. Knizner is slashing .227/.254/.418 through 115 plate appearances this season.
Jul 14 2023Knizner (groin) has been cleared to return to action, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner is eligible for activation Saturday and it sounds like he should be back on the active roster that day. He's missed the last week-and-a-half after taking a foul ball to the groin.
Jul 5 2023Knizner has no structural damage in his groin, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday after taking a foul ball to the groin in the fourth inning of Tuesday's blowout loss to the Marlins, but it sounds like he'll be able to return to the Cardinals' active roster shortly after the All-Star break. Ivan Herrera will serve as the backup to Willson Contreras in the meantime.
Jul 4 2023Knizner left Tuesday's game against the Marlins due to a groin injury, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner took a foul ball to the groin and was sent to a local hospital in Miami to be evaluated, which suggests that there is significant concern. Ivan Herrera or Tres Barrera could get the call from Triple-A Memphis if the Cardinals need a new backup catcher.
Jun 4 2023Knizner went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner provided the Cardinals' lone run with a seventh-inning blast off Pirates starter Rich Hill. While playing time is once again scarce for Knizner, he's homered in each of his last two games and hit safely in four of his last five contests. He's at a .232/.259/.476 slash line with five homers, 12 RBI, 12 runs scored and a stolen base over 86 plate appearances -- solid numbers for a backup catcher.
May 29 2023Knizner went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner went 4-for-11 (.364) with two extra-base hits over four games last week. He's still good for one or two starts a week as backup to Willson Contreras, but there's not a clear path to consistent at-bats for Knizner. For the season, he's slashing .231/.259/.449 with four homers, 11 RBI, 11 runs scored, a stolen base and five doubles over 92 plate appearances.
May 15 2023Knizner went 1-for-1 with a grand slam and two total runs in Monday's 18-1 rout of Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner began the game on the bench, but he came in to pinch run for Paul Goldschmidt with St. Louis up by eight runs in the eighth inning. He came around to score when Nolan Gorman homered four pitches later, and Knizner then got a turn at the plate when St. Louis batted around to get back to Goldschmidt's original spot. Knizner delivered a grand slam off position player Mike Brosseau, putting the icing on a huge 10-run frame. It was the second straight game with a homer for Knizner, who went deep just once over his first 56 at-bats of the season.
May 14 2023Knizner went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner got a short run as the Cardinals' primary catcher over the last week, and he went 7-for-26 (.269) with a homer, four doubles, four RBI and five runs scored over the last seven games. Willson Contreras is expected to resume catching duties Monday, so Knizner's playing time is likely to drop off a bit again. The veteran backup has a .213/.238/.377 slash line with two homers, six RBI, eight runs scored and four doubles through 64 plate appearances this year.
May 8 2023Knizner went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's 12-6 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner posted his first multi-hit game of the year Sunday. He doubled home a run and scored in the sixth and then doubled and scored yet again in the eighth. The 28-year-old raised his slash line to .205/.244/.333 and has just one homer, three RBI, five runs and a 2:15 BB:K over 42 plate appearances this year.
May 6 2023Knizner will serve as the Cardinals' top catcher for the next few weeks while Willson Contreras spends time at designated hitter and in the outfield, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Contreras has looked good offensively, but the Cardinals are unhappy with his performance on the defensive side and aren't going to use him much if at all at catcher for the near future. That opens up considerably more playing time for Knizner, but he's unlikely to do enough with it to have much fantasy value. In 197 career major-league games, he's hit .201/.287/.285 with eight homers.
May 5 2023Knizner went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner got the Cardinals on the board in the third inning with his solo shot, which was his first homer and fifth hit of the season. He's supplied his two RBI over his last two games, and he's also added three runs scored while hitting .156 across 35 plate appearances. With Willson Contreras getting most of the starts behind the dish, it's tough to see Knizner getting consistent playing time.
Mar 7 2023Cardinals manager Oli Marmol noted Tuesday that Knizner is not assured of the team's backup catcher role, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner served as the primary understudy to Yadier Molina over the last two seasons, but he holds just a .204/.292/.288 career batting line in 553 plate appearances at the major-league level. Tres Barrera has impressed the Cardinals' coaches and pitchers this spring, per Denton, and might emerge as the No. 2 option behind Willson Contreras.
Jan 13 2023Knizner agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Cardinals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner appeared in a career-high 97 games last season and had a .215/.301/.300 slash line with four home runs and 25 RBI. He'll remain the No. 2 catcher despite the retirement of Yadier Molina since the Cardinals signed Willson Contreras in free agency.
Sep 29 2022Knizner went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner led off the seventh inning with a homer off righty reliever Matt Bush to cut the Cardinals' deficit to one. The catcher's last 14 games have been abysmal at the plate as he's recorded a .098 average and .268 slugging percentage over 41 at-bats. However after a recent 0-for-19 stretch , the 27-year-old has homered in back-to-back contests.
Sep 27 2022Knizner went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner connected for a two-run shot off Brent Suter in the top of the fourth frame, extending the Cardinals' lead to 4-0. The homer was his third of the season and first since Aug. 27. Since the beginning of September, Knizner has gone 2-for-36 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored while striking out 10 times.
Aug 27 2022Knizner went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a hit-by-pitch in Saturday's 6-5 win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner has hit safely in five straight games, going 7-for-16 (.438) with a homer, three RBI, eight runs scored and a pair of doubles in that short but productive stretch. He accounted for the Cardinals' first two runs in this contest. The catcher has alternated starts with Yadier Molina over the last six games, which suggests Knizner may be forcing his way into a timeshare. He has a .231/.329/.302 slash line with two homers, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored and eight doubles through 229 plate appearances this year.
Aug 22 2022Knizner will return to the bench for Monday's game against the Cubs, Bally Sports Midwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Yadier Molina (personal) coming off the restricted list Monday and stepping back in as the Cardinals' No. 1 catcher, Knizner's brief run atop the depth chart comes to an end. Knizner was behind the plate for both of the Cardinals' final two games of the weekend series in Arizona and went 3-for-7 with a double, two walks and four runs.
Aug 20 2022Knizner went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and three runs scored in Saturday's 16-7 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner got the start behind the dish Saturday as Yadier Molina (personal) is away from the team. In his last 10 games, Knizner has delivered four multi-hit efforts with two doubles, two RBI and seven runs scored. The backup catcher is up to a .219/.311/.273 slash line with one home run, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored and seven doubles through 213 plate appearances this year. Molina is expected to rejoin the Cardinals on Monday, so Knizner's time as the No. 1 backstop is likely limited.
Aug 2 2022Knizner is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Yadier Molina (knee) back from the 10-day injured list and stepping into the lineup Tuesday, Knizner is expected to serve as St. Louis' No. 2 backstop moving forward. Knizner finally started to find a rhythm at the plate in July with a .280/.345/.320 slash line on the month, but he's still holding down a poor .575 OPS over 194 plate appearances on the season.
Jul 31 2022Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner will get a much-needed breather after he started behind the plate in each of the past six games. Austin Romine will relieve Knizner of catching duties in the series finale, but both players are likely to settle into reserve roles as soon as Tuesday, when No. 1 backstop Yadier Molina (knee) is expected to be activated from the injured list.
Jul 22 2022Knizner isn't starting Friday against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner drew starts in five of the last six games and went 7-for-15 with a double, five RBI and a run. Austin Romine is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.
Jul 17 2022Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll get a breather for the day game, paving the way for Austin Romine to get a turn behind the dish. Knizner appears to have re-established himself as St. Louis' top backstop in the absence of the injured Yadier Molina (knee) after going 7-for-15 with five RBI while starting at catcher in five of the Cardinals' previous six contests.
Jul 15 2022Knizner isn't in the lineup Friday against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner is resting after he went 6-for-11 with a double, five runs, an RBI and a walk over the last four games. Austin Romine will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
Jul 13 2022Knizner went 3-for-4 with three RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner hit RBI singles in the second, fourth and eighth innings, with the last of those three knocks providing the margin of victory. The catcher hadn't posted a multi-hit game since May 22, and this was his second three-hit effort of the season. He's gone 5-for-21 (.238) in July and owns a .197/.288/.246 slash line with a home run, 16 RBI, 10 runs scored and four doubles in 55 contests overall.
Jul 11 2022Knizner will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Knizner sat three times during a four-game stretch last week, he appears to have taken back the Cardinals' primary catcher role from Austin Romine. Knizner will be included in the lineup for the third time in four contests despite having produced an .096 batting average dating back to the start of June.
Jul 7 2022Knizner isn't starting Thursday against Atlanta, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Wednesday and will be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Austin Romine is starting behind the dish and batting ninth, and he appears to be the slight favorite for playing time behind the dish for now.
Jul 5 2022Knizner is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though he appeared to have settled back in as the Cardinals' No. 1 catcher while Yadier Molina (knee) remains on the injured list and after Ivan Herrera was recently optioned to Triple-A Memphis, Knizner will end up sitting for the second game in a row. New call-up Austin Romine will make another turn behind the plate as the Cardinals look to see if he can provide an upgrade over Knizner, who has produced a .523 OPS over his 145 plate appearances on the season.
Jul 3 2022Knizner will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals gave Ivan Herrera a look as their No. 1 backstop to begin last week, but the rookie was unable to run away with the job. As a result, Knizner -- who is starting for the third time in four games -- looks like he'll receive another trial as the team's primary backstop while Yadier Molina (knee) remains on the injured list. Knizner has been one of baseball's least-productive hitters among players with at least 100 plate appearances, as he'll take a .185/.284/.242 slash line and 60 wRC+ into Sunday's contest.
Jun 28 2022Knizner remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner is on the bench for the third game in a row and looks as though he'll serve as the Cardinals' No. 2 catcher even while top backstop Yadier Molina (knee) faces an uncertain timeline to return from the 10-day injured list. Per Jones, manager Oliver Marmol said he intended to give Ivan Herrera a trial as the Cardinals' primary catcher, so Knizner may be asked to make only a start or two per week if Herrera performs well enough to hang on to the No. 1 role.
Jun 27 2022Knizner isn't starting Monday against Miami, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner went 0-for-7 with two strikeouts over his last three games and will be out of the lineup for a second consecutive matchup. Ivan Herrera is starting behind the plate and batting ninth.
Jun 26 2022Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner started five of the past six contests and will receive Sunday off after going 1-for-12 during that span. Ivan Herrera will work behind the dish in the series finale versus Chicago.
Jun 23 2022Knizner isn't starting Thursday against the Brewers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner started the last three games and went 1-for-8 with a walk and a strikeout. Ivan Herrera will take over behind the dish and bat ninth Thursday.
Jun 19 2022Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner has taken over as the Cardinals' No. 1 backstop in the wake of Yadier Molina (knee) landing on the injured list Friday, but the former will give way to Ivan Herrera behind the dish in the series finale in Boston. While starting in both of the first two games of the series, Knizner went 1-for-6 with a double, two walks, two runs and an RBI.
Jun 16 2022Knizner is in line to serve as the Cardinals' primary catcher in the near future since Yadier Molina (knee) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old started in six of the last nine games since Molina was dealing with persistent knee soreness, and Knizner went 1-for-18 with a walk and four strikeouts during that time. Molina doesn't yet have a timetable to return, and Knizner will likely see most of the at-bats during the veteran's IL stint. However, the Cardinals will call up prospect Ivan Herrera on Friday, and he'll likely compete for playing time in the big leagues if Knizner continues to struggle at the plate.
Jun 13 2022Knizner will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner will start for the fifth time in six games while Yadier Molina continues to nurse an unspecified injury. With Molina missing time of late, Knizner hasn't been able to capitalize on the added opportunities afforded to him. He's gone hitless with six strikeouts in 16 at-bats over his last five starts.
May 26 2022Knizner is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Milwaukee, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner started the past three games with Yadier Molina (personal) on the bereavement list, but Molina is back with the team for Thursday's contest. Knizner has a solid .269/.364/.358 slash line for a backup catcher and should continue to see semi-regular playing time behind Molina.
May 23 2022Knizner will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Blue Jays, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner is likely to draw both of the starts behind the plate during the Cardinals' two-game series with the Blue Jays while top backstop Yadier Molina (personal) is back in Puerto Rico to tend to a family matter after being placed on the bereavement list. By catchers' standards, Knizner has been productive when given opportunities to play this season, as he carries a .262/.357/.361 slash line over 70 plate appearances into Monday's contest.
May 16 2022Knizner went 1-for-1 with a hit-by-pitch and three RBI in Sunday's 15-6 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner hit a two-run single in the sixth inning when he pinch hit for Yadier Molina, then got plunked with the bases loaded in the seventh. Over his last three games, Knizner is 3-for-6, a vast improvement after he started May just 2-for-16 in his first six contests. Overall, the catcher is slashing a reasonable .245/.362/.367 with a home run, nine RBI, three runs scored and three doubles in 58 plate appearances.
Apr 23 2022Knizner went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a walk in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner has recorded multiple hits in two of his six games this season. The 27-year-old catcher opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning. He also scored on a Paul Goldschmidt double in the sixth inning after getting aboard with a double of his own. Knizner has started consecutive games as Yadier Molina continues to deal with some general soreness. Knizner owns a .318/.375/.545 slash line with six RBI, two runs scored, a home run and a pair of doubles through 24 plate appearances this season.
Apr 19 2022Knizner will retreat to the bench for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While top backstop Yadier Molina recently dealt with general soreness, Knizner picked up three consecutive starts behind the plate over the weekend in Milwaukee and went a collective 4-for-12 with two RBI. Though Molina is back in action for Tuesday's series opener, manager Oliver Marmol suggested Sunday that the veteran catcher will likely split time with Knizner until Molina's soreness completely subsides, according to John Denton of MLB.com. Knizner thus looks like he could be in line for up to three starts this week, but expect his playing time to taper off thereafter.
Apr 15 2022Knizner went 3-for-5 with two RBI in a 10-1 win Friday in Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his second start of the season, Knizner had a two-run single in the four-run first inning and added two more singles later in the game. After compiling just 20 RBI in 89 games in his first three big-league seasons, the 27-year-old has picked up five RBI in his first two contests of 2022. While he hasn't yet consistently hit well in the majors, he does have a career .303/.369/.461 in the minor leagues.
Apr 13 2022Knizner went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backup catcher was initially expected to start Monday versus the Pirates before that game was rained out. Knizner still got his start Tuesday, and he made the most of it, as his three-run blast in the fourth inning gave the Cardinals just enough runs to get the win. The 27-year-old is expected to play more frequently than in past seasons to give Yadier Molina rest, so it's encouraging to see Knizner make an impact when given a start as he looks to cement his place as the Cardinals' catcher of the future.
Apr 11 2022Knizner will start at catcher and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Pirates, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals are wrapping up their season-opening series against Pittsburgh with a game that begins at 2:15 p.m. ET, so Knizner will check in behind the dish as manager Oliver Marmol looks to extend a breather to top backstop Yadier Molina. Knizer went unused over the Cardinals' first three games while Molina started each time.
Sep 29 2021Knizner will start at catcher and bat eighth Wednesday against the Brewers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner will remain in the lineup for a third straight game while Yadier Molina continues to manage a sore shoulder. With the Cardinals having clinched a wild-card berth, Molina could get a few more days off during the team's final four regular-season contests, so Knizner may receive at least a couple more starts beyond Wednesday.
Aug 6 2021Knizner went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in an 8-4 loss to Atlanta on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner got St. Louis on the board with his third-inning solo shot and later walked in the ninth. The long ball was the backstop's third in 67 career games and a recent hot stretch has raised Knizner's OPS from .490 to .601 since July 7.
Jul 26 2021Knizner went 1-for-2 with a double, three walks and a run in a win over the Reds on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner drew another start for Yadier Molina (neck) and was a thorn in the side of Reds pitching all afternoon long. The reserve backstop has taken advantage of his current three-game stretch behind the dish in Molina's stead, going 3-for-7 with two doubles, two RBI, six walks and two runs over that span.
Jul 24 2021Knizner went 2-for-4 with a two-run ground-rule double and a run in a loss to the Reds on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The reserve backstop made his first game appearance since July 7, and he came through with his first multi-hit effort since May 30. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Knizner will draw a second straight start behind the dish Saturday due to Yadier Molina's ongoing neck stiffness.
Jul 14 2021Knizner wrapped up the first half of the season with a .178/.267/.222 slash line, four doubles, two RBI, nine walks and 11 runs across 101 plate appearances over 36 games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Heading into the season, the company line was that ageless backstop Yadier Molina would finally begin to cut down on his typically voluminous workload to a degree, which would lead to more consistent opportunities for Knizner. That said, while Knizner has already doubled up on his previous career high of 18 games, it's worth noting at least 14 of his appearances thus far have been a direct result of Molina's injury-related absences, and Knizner finished the first half logging only two starts from June 22 onward. However, Molina did skip the All-Star Game to rest a nagging foot injury, so there may be opportunities for Knizner to draw some starts early in the second half.
May 31 2021Knizner went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The reserve backstop drew only his second start in the last 15 games and was one of the few bright spots for the Cardinals. Knizner has now reached safely in four of the eight plate appearances he's logged during his last two starts, but his opportunities are expected to continue to be sporadic as long as Yadier Molina is healthy.
May 9 2021Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After Yadier Molina (foot) returned from the injured list Saturday, Knizner's time as the Cardinals' No. 1 catcher came to an end. While Molina was sidelined, Knizner went 6-for-34 (.176 average) over a 10-game stretch.
May 5 2021Knizner is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizer started Game 1 and will head to the bench after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Ali Sanchez will take over behind the plate in the nightcap for the Cardinals.
Apr 28 2021Knizner, who's set to serve as the primary catcher for the time being with Yadier Molina (foot) on the injured list, went 2-for-4 with a run in a win over the Phillies on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner started both weekend games against the Reds in Molina's stead and provided similarly encouraging results, going 2-for-7 with a double and an RBI in that pair of games. Tuesday's multi-hit effort, his first of the season, pushed his slash to an impressive .304/.360/.391 across his first 25 plate appearances, and with Molina down at least the next 10 days, Knizner should be in for his most extensive big-league starting opportunity yet.
Apr 14 2021Knizner, making his first start of the season in Tuesday's win over the Nationals, went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Coming into the season, Yadier Molina was projected to cede starting duties behind the dish more often than in the past, but until Tuesday, the ageless veteran's hot bat had kept him in the lineup for each of the Cardinals' first 10 games. Knizner made good use of his opportunity, however, following a 1-for-4 start to the season as a pinch hitter/defensive replacement in three other contests.
Mar 6 2021Knizner, who went 2-for-3 with two runs in a Grapefruit League loss to the Nationals on Friday, is 4-for-8 with a double, two RBI and four runs overall across three spring games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner finally appears to have a clear path to the primary backup role at catcher with veteran Matt Weiters, who effectively blocked him the last two seasons, no longer on the roster. Consequently, the 26-year-old's strong early start is reason for cautious optimism, especially since Knizner has a relatively extensive minor-league track record of success at the plate to support the notion he could thrive with extended opportunity. Through his first 75 major-league plate appearances over the last two seasons, Knizner has generated a .232/.280/.362 slash with five extra-base hits (three doubles, two home runs), 11 RBI, four walks, two steals and eight runs.
Feb 20 2021Knizner is preparing for the possibility of filling a variety of roles this coming season and has reported to spring training with a holistically impressive mindset, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. "Kiz has really done a nice job," manager Mike Shildt said. "He's off to a good start to camp, he's in a good place physically and mentally." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old doesn't quite know whether he'll open the season back in the minors or as Yadier Molina's backup, but he dove into film study of late-inning game situations this offseason in an attempt to be better prepared for whatever comes his way. Knizner has also stepped up his immersion into scouting reports and has already familiarized himself with the Cardinals' first two scheduled opponents of the regular season, the Reds and Marlins. There's more talk than in previous springs of Molina operating in a legitimate timeshare behind the dish as the club prepares for an eventual future that doesn't include the 38-year-old backstop, and Knizner, with his 26 games of big-league experience and familiarity with the pitching staff, seems much more prepared to step in occasionally for Molina than offseason additions Ali Sanchez and Tyler Heineman.
Sep 30 2020The Cardinals added Knizner to their 28-man roster Wednesday ahead of the team's wild-card series with the Padres, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner is slated to serve as the Cardinals' No. 3 catcher behind Yadier Molina and Matt Wieters during the three-game series. The 25-year-old appeared in eight games during the regular season, going 4-for-16 with four RBI.
Sep 4 2020Knizner was optioned off the Cardinals' active roster Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner had been filling in as the backup catcher with Matt Wieters out with a bruised toe, going 4-for-16 at the plate. He'll head back to the team's alternate training site now that Wieters is ready to return.
Sep 2 2020Knizner entered Tuesday's win over the Reds on Tuesday as a pinch hitter in the top of the sixth inning and went 2-for-2 with a two-run infield single and a run. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rarely-used catcher made the most of his playing time opportunity, extending the Cardinals' lead to 13-0 in the sixth inning with his single. Knizner has not logged any starts since Matt Wieters' went on the injured list Aug. 20 with a toe issue, and he has just 17 plate appearances on the season overall.
Aug 6 2020Knizner will be Matt Wieters' primary backup at catcher while Yadier Molina (illness) remains out of action. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner did not see any action over the first five games of the season and has primarily been serving as a bullpen catcher. He'll now ascend to the job of primary backup for the time being, which should afford him some opportunities behind the dish in coming games.
Jul 23 2020Knizner was named to the Cardinals' Opening Day roster on Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The promising backstop showed enough in summer camp to finish making his case for a spot that could see him fill a few different roles. Knizner will be available off the bench, as an occasional spot starter in place of the aging top duo of Yadier Molina and Matt Wieters and as a bullpen catcher whenever needed. The Cardinals were intent on allowing Knizner to continue his development in a year without minor-league baseball, with president of baseball operations confirming that was one of the team's priorities.
Jul 17 2020Knizner has made a strong case to serve as a bat off the bench and potential third catcher during the regular season, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As part of MLB's unique 2020 format, teams will be allowed to take a three-man taxi squad on road trips, and one of those players must be a catcher. That opens up an opportunity for Knizner, who Rogers points out could also be available for home games in a pinch-hit capacity or in-game replacement and as a bullpen catcher to warm up relievers. Additionally, the advanced age of Yadier Molina and Matt Wieters, the two backstops ahead of him on the depth chart, could also help lead to the occasional spot start for Knizner, who slashed .226/.293/.377 during his first taste of big-league action last season but also put together an impressive body of work as a hitter during his six minor-league stops.
Jun 29 2020Knizner is part of the Cardinals' player pool that will report to summer camp July 1, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Knizner's presence in the player pool is of little surprise, and he's expected to be part of the expanded Opening Day roster as well. The 25-year-old projects to slot in behind veterans Yadier Molina and Matt Wieters behind the dish, and he could potentially see time at the designated hitter slot that will be available in the National League for the 2020 season.
Mar 20 2020Knizner was hitting .154 (4-for-26) before spring training was suspended, and while he's slated to start the season at Triple-A Memphis, he hopes his next big-league opportunity arrives promptly, Corey Miller of KSDK.com reports. "Where I'm at now, where my skills are at, I feel great about where my body is at, so physically, mentally and skills-wise, I feel really good," Knizner said. "I think the point I'm at now in my career is needing that big league experience. I need that consistent playing time in the big leagues to continue to grow and be that consistent producer." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As his Grapefruit League numbers indicate, the 25-year-old backstop was scuffling at the plate, but he remains the heir apparent to Yadier Molina. However, Molina is projected for another heavy workload this season, while Matt Wieters was re-signed on a one-year deal to be the backup for a second straight season. Knizner will thus get regular playing time in Memphis, where he has logged a combined 83 games over the last two seasons. He did get his first taste of big-league regular-season action last season, slashing .226/.293/.377 across 58 plate appearances over 18 games.
Sep 1 2019Knizner went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in a losing effort in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Reds on Sunday.
Aug 12 2019The Cardinals optioned Knizner to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Jul 25 2019Knizner went 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and an additional run Wednesday in the Cardinals' 14-8 win over the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 18 2019Knizner is 1-for-7 with a double over his first two games since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis on July 11.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 11 2019Knizner was recalled from Triple-A Memphis<\/a> on Thursday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 11 2019Knizner was optioned<\/a> to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 3 2019Knizer went 0-for-3 in a win over the Cubs on Sunday, his first major-league game.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Knizner will make his major-league debut<\/a> Sunday versus the Cubs, catching and batting eighth.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 31 2019Knizner's contract was purchased<\/a> from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 5 2018Knizner is slashing .333/.381/.436 with four doubles and four RBI over his first 43 plate appearances at Triple-A Memphis.Knizner had received a callup to the Redbirds in mid-May as part of the domino effect of simultaneous injuries to Yadier Molina and Carson Kelly at the big-league level. However, he's subsequently proven worthy of the promotion on his own merits. The young backstop has exceeded the impressive .324 average he'd generated with Double-A Springfield, and he's come within striking distance of the .412 on-base percentage and .467 slugging percentage that made up the remainder of his line. Knizner has been impressive with the bat at every professional stop thus far, and even though Molina presently blocks his path to the big leagues, it isn't inconceivable that he could eventually surpass Kelly as the veteran's heir apparent.