Justin Knoedler
Encyclopedia
Justin Joseph Knoedler is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
.
Knoedler was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals
in the 41st round (1218th overall) in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
out of Springfield High School
but did not sign with them. He was also taken in the 13th round (391st overall) of the 2000 MLB Draft (after playing at Lincoln Land Community College
) by the San Francisco Giants
. Once again, he did not sign and chose to play college ball at Miami University
. He entered the draft again in , being taken by the Giants again, this time as a higher overall pick (166th overall in the 5th round). This time he signed a contract.
Knoedler began his professional career in 2001 as a pitcher
for the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
. He appeared in 13 games, all in relief
, and had a 1-1 record with a 1.26 ERA
. He did long relief, pitching 28 2/3 inning with 38 strikeout
s and only walked
9.
In , Knoedler converted to catcher. He played for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns
and in his first year as a catcher, he batted
.257 with 5 home run
s in 86 games. Knoedler was promoted to the High-A San Jose Giants
in . His batting average was the same from the previous year, but he doubled his home run total to 10.
Knoedler began the season with the Double-A Norwich Navigators. He played the full minor league season as he appeared in 115 games. He batted .274 with 9 home runs. He earned a September callup to the major leagues on September 6. He did not make his major league debut until the last game of the season on October 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
. He entered the game as a defensive replacement for A.J. Pierzynski and he had one at-bat, flying out to center field.
Knoedler played in Double-A in for 4 games and mainly played for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
. He was with the major league club from August 2 to August 3 while Mike Matheny
was on the bereavement list. The Giants called him back up in September. On September 12, against the San Diego Padres
, he got his first big league hit
, a pinch hit single
off Akinori Otsuka
.
He appeared in 5 major league games for the Giants in . Since then, he has not appeared in a major league game after spending the entire season in Triple-A.
Following the 2007 season, he became a minor league free agent. He signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics
on November 21, 2007 and was also invited to spring training
, spending the 2008 season with the Sacramento River Cats
. He signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals
after the season but did not make the club and was released after spring training. He subsequently signed a Minor League contract with the Florida Marlins
on May 21, 2009. After a brief stint with the Marlins AAA team, the New Orleans Zephyrs
, he was released and signed on August 22, 2009 with The Chicago White Sox
, who assigned him to the Charlotte Knights
, also in AAA.
On February 1, 2010, Knoedler signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
, with an invitation to spring training. He did not make the club and became a free agent.
. Jason spent his entire minor league career with the Tigers organization from 2001 to 2005 as a outfielder
. He spent spring training 2006 with the Giants and asked for his release following injury.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
Knoedler was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the 41st round (1218th overall) in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
out of Springfield High School
Springfield High School (Illinois)
Springfield High School is a public secondary school located in Springfield, Illinois. It is the oldest of the three high schools in Springfield Public Schools District 186 . The school draws mainly from the west side of Springfield.While the school opened in 1857, the current building was...
but did not sign with them. He was also taken in the 13th round (391st overall) of the 2000 MLB Draft (after playing at Lincoln Land Community College
Lincoln Land Community College
Lincoln Land Community College is a comprehensive community college with its main campus in Springfield, IL. The LLCC district is the largest in the state and covers all or parts of 15 counties...
) by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. Once again, he did not sign and chose to play college ball at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. He entered the draft again in , being taken by the Giants again, this time as a higher overall pick (166th overall in the 5th round). This time he signed a contract.
Knoedler began his professional career in 2001 as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a minor league baseball team in Keizer, Oregon, United States. They are a Short-Season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants since the Volcanoes' inception in 1997...
. He appeared in 13 games, all in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, and had a 1-1 record with a 1.26 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He did long relief, pitching 28 2/3 inning with 38 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and only walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
9.
In , Knoedler converted to catcher. He played for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
and in his first year as a catcher, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.257 with 5 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in 86 games. Knoedler was promoted to the High-A San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
in . His batting average was the same from the previous year, but he doubled his home run total to 10.
Knoedler began the season with the Double-A Norwich Navigators. He played the full minor league season as he appeared in 115 games. He batted .274 with 9 home runs. He earned a September callup to the major leagues on September 6. He did not make his major league debut until the last game of the season on October 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He entered the game as a defensive replacement for A.J. Pierzynski and he had one at-bat, flying out to center field.
Knoedler played in Double-A in for 4 games and mainly played for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
. He was with the major league club from August 2 to August 3 while Mike Matheny
Mike Matheny
Michael Scott Matheny is the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. He is also a former baseball catcher, playing for four different teams during his thirteen years in the major leagues...
was on the bereavement list. The Giants called him back up in September. On September 12, against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, he got his first big league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a pinch hit single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
off Akinori Otsuka
Akinori Otsuka
is a currently inactive Japanese Major League Baseball player. He was formerly the set-up man for the San Diego Padres and the Texas Rangers...
.
He appeared in 5 major league games for the Giants in . Since then, he has not appeared in a major league game after spending the entire season in Triple-A.
Following the 2007 season, he became a minor league free agent. He signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
on November 21, 2007 and was also invited to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, spending the 2008 season with the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
. He signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
after the season but did not make the club and was released after spring training. He subsequently signed a Minor League contract with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
on May 21, 2009. After a brief stint with the Marlins AAA team, the New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
, he was released and signed on August 22, 2009 with The Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, who assigned him to the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
, also in AAA.
On February 1, 2010, Knoedler signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, with an invitation to spring training. He did not make the club and became a free agent.
Personal
He has a twin brother, Jason, who was also drafted in the 6th round of the 2001 draft by the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Jason spent his entire minor league career with the Tigers organization from 2001 to 2005 as a outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He spent spring training 2006 with the Giants and asked for his release following injury.