The Sacramento River Cats welcomed a new addition to their lineup on Wednesday. St. Louis Cardinals catcher and experienced backstop has signed a minor league deal with the team, according to their transaction log.
Knizner made an immediate impact in Sacramento, racking up three hits—including two doubles—and driving in three RBIs in just five at-bats during an 8-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Comets. He had started the season with the Washington Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate but opted out of his contract earlier this week.
This move could be signaling another shift for the Giants’ roster. Sacramento already has two catchers in Max Stassi and Logan Porter, but Stassi’s situation is worth watching. He finished last season on the Chicago White Sox’s 40-man roster, even though he didn’t play for them, and signed a minor league deal with the Giants in the offseason. That contract came with several opt-out dates, and while he hasn’t exercised any yet, the next one is approaching on June 1. If he opts out, he would become a free agent unless the Giants add him to the 40-man roster.
If the Giants do decide to promote Stassi, it could push current backup catcher Sam Huff off the roster. This could play out in the next week or so, though it may all be irrelevant since Stassi has only appeared in one game since returning from the injured list.
For now, Knizner brings plenty of experience to Sacramento, both behind the plate and offensively. The right-handed hitter has a solid .821 OPS over parts of four seasons in Triple-A, including a 1.016 OPS with the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate before he opted out earlier this year.
Knizner also has six seasons of big-league experience, primarily with the Cardinals, where he posted a .596 OPS overall. However, he had a decent 2023 season with a .712 OPS, 10 home runs, and 31 RBIs in 241 plate appearances.
Defensively, Knizner is not known for his elite skills behind the plate. While he can frame pitches well at times, he struggles with blocking and doesn’t have the quickest pop times. For now, he’ll share catching duties with Logan Porter and Max Stassi in Sacramento.
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