As the Philadelphia Phillies prepare to kick off spring training in Clearwater, a familiar name from the past has resurfaced, reminding fans of an earlier era in the team’s history. Former Phillies catcher Andrew Knapp announced his retirement from professional baseball this past Sunday, sharing an emotional message on Instagram.
Knapp, the Phillies’ second-round pick in the 2013 draft, once ranked as high as No. 9 on the organization’s MLB Pipeline prospect list in 2016. Now 33, he made his MLB debut in 2017 as a 25-year-old.
In his heartfelt retirement post, Knapp reflected on his journey:
“Every ballplayer’s career has to come to an end at some point, and now is my time to hang ’em up. God has blessed me with an amazing career, and I feel so grateful to have played as long as I have,” he wrote.
The Roseville, California native served as the Phillies’ backup catcher for five seasons (2017–2021), with his standout year coming during the shortened 2020 campaign. That season, the switch-hitter posted a career-high .278 batting average and an .849 OPS across 33 games and 89 plate appearances.
In 309 games with the Phillies, Knapp accumulated a .214/.314/.322 slash line, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 62 runs. Following the 2021 season, he entered free agency and signed with the Cincinnati Reds. Over the next two years, Knapp played in multiple organizations, including the Pirates, Mariners, Giants, Tigers, Astros, and Rangers.
Baseball ran in Knapp’s family, with his father, Mike, spending 11 years in the minor leagues. Knapp credited his father’s career for sparking his passion for the sport:
“Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a professional baseball player. Some of my earliest memories are at the ballpark and in the clubhouse with my dad and his teammates. I dedicated my life to the game, and it gave me so much in return—relationships that will last a lifetime. Baseball taught me how to fail, persevere, and remain humble and confident. It showed me that people remember the kind of person you are more than the kind of player you were.”
Just last offseason, Knapp signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers, the defending World Series champions, but was released in August after 81 Triple-A games. He briefly returned to the Giants organization, appearing in three MLB games and recording a hit with two RBIs in his final at-bats.
Despite his post-Phillies travels, Knapp spent most of his time in the minors, appearing in only 19 big-league games after leaving Philadelphia. Over seven MLB seasons, he finished with a .209/.309/.312 slash line, 13 home runs, and 66 RBIs in 328 games.
During his Phillies tenure, Knapp shared the field with several of the team’s current stars, including Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Bryce Harper, and J.T. Realmuto. One memorable moment from his final season in Philadelphia came when he contributed to one of the team’s 12 walk-off wins.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play alongside so many amazing teammates throughout my career. What I’ll miss most is being in the clubhouse with the guys. I took pride in being a great teammate, bringing out the best in those around me, and helping the team however I could. The bonds formed in the clubhouse are special, and I’m grateful for every teammate I’ve had at every level of baseball.”
Knapp’s full message can be read on Instagram. We wish him the very best in his retirement.
Leave a Reply