The Sacramento River Cats featured a new addition to their lineup on Wednesday, as veteran catcher and former St. Louis Cardinal Catcher joined the team on a minor league contract, according to the team’s transaction log.
SF Giants bolster catching depth by adding former Cardinals backstop on minor league deal
He made an immediate impact for Sacramento, tallying three hits—including two doubles—and driving in three runs in five at-bats during an 8–1 victory over the Oklahoma City Comets. He had opened the year with the Nationals’ Triple-A team but recently used his opt-out clause to leave the organization.
His arrival may signal further moves ahead. Sacramento already has two catchers on the roster: Max Stassi and Logan Porter. Stassi ended last season on the White Sox’s 40-man roster, despite never appearing in a game for them.
Stassi joined the Giants on a minor league contract with several built-in opt-out dates. He passed on the earlier ones, but the next opportunity comes June 1. If he chooses to opt out and the Giants don’t promote him to the 40-man roster, he’ll become a free agent.
Should the Giants decide to add Stassi, backup catcher Sam Huff could lose his spot. However, this situation may resolve itself soon, especially since Stassi has only played in one game since coming off the injured list.
In the meantime, Knizner adds veteran experience and some offensive potential to the River Cats. The right-handed hitter owns a career .821 OPS over parts of four Triple-A seasons, including a strong 1.016 OPS earlier this year with the Nationals’ affiliate.
Knizner also brings significant MLB experience, primarily with the Cardinals. Over six seasons in the majors, he’s posted a .596 OPS, though he enjoyed a solid 2023 campaign with a .712 OPS, 10 home runs, and 31 RBI in 241 plate appearances.
Defensively, the 30-year-old catcher offers limited value. While he can occasionally frame pitches effectively, his blocking and throwing are below average. For now, he’ll share catching duties in Sacramento with Stassi and Porter.
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