Rangers sign experienced former SF Giants catcher to milb contract

The reigning champion Texas Rangers have signed former Phillies, Pirates, and SF Giants catcher Andrew Knapp to a minor league contract.

The reigning World Champion Texas Rangers have been solidifying their upper minors depth over the past couple of weeks. Amidst a flurry of deals, the Rangers signed former SF Giants catcher Andrew Knapp to a minor-league contract. The deal includes an invitation to Texas' spring training. Knapp split the 2023 campaign between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros organizations. He hit .233/.328/.377 in 97 games combined between each club's Triple-A affiliate.

Pirates catcher Andrew Knapp tracks a ball after he puts a pitch into play. (2022) / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Knapp appeared in six consecutive MLB seasons from 2017-2022, hitting .209/.310/.313 with 13 home runs in 873 plate appearances. He appeared in 14 major-league games in 2022 between the Pirates, Mariners, and Giants. He struggled to do any damage at the plate. He posted a measly .143/.262/.171 triple-slash.

Once a well-regarded prospect, Knapp was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Phillies out of Cal. He worked his way up through the minors and made his big-league debut with Philadelphia in 2017, appearing in 56 MLB games. Knapp has rarely been a big power threat as a professional. Instead, the left-handed hitter has aimed to add offensive value with gap-to-gap power and a patient approach. However, despite some flashes, he has always been a soft-hitting backup in the majors.

Behind the plate defensively, Knapp has been consistently average, but he has particularly struggled to throw runners out stealing bases. A 30% CS% is generally viewed as a target for MLB catchers, Knapp has a career 19% mark. It's perhaps not a coincidence, then, that Knapp did not receive a big-league opportunity last year, with MLB's new rules that were designed to make it easier for runners to steal bases. Knapp threw out 23% of opposing base stealers at Triple-A last season.

Andrew Knapp has been on a merry-go-round of minor league contracts over the past two seasons and is hoping to find some stability in 2024. After inking a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers he will look to appear in an official MLB game for the first time since he played for the SF Giants back in 2022.