Started By
Message

Blaine Knight promoted to Triple-A Norfolk (+Other MiLB Hogs)

Posted on 8/17/21 at 9:57 pm
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/17/21 at 9:57 pm
Knight has had an up and down minors for the Os farm system.

- Looked really good in short season A after the CWS in 2018
- Continued that into Low-A and was quickly promoted to High-A in early 2019, then had an absolutely disastrous stretch where it seemed like nothing worked
- This year he's back to the old Blaine Knight and was promoted to Double-A in June and now Triple-A

What's very interesting is who he's playing with. The Os may suck at The Show currently, but they have a top 5 farm system (personally I'd say top 3) after being rebuilt by GM Mike Elias (former head scout during the Astros rebuild).

Knight just got promoted after #1 prospect in all of baseball, Adley Rutschman (yes... that one...) was promoted there last week. He'd been pitching to Adley the majority of the year along with expected new #1 overall pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez at Double-A Bowie.

These moves make it seem like the Os are moving Knight along with the future core of the Os. Hopefully he throws well to Adley in Norfolk and they both get to see the show next year. The Os are pretty stacked and it will nice to see Knight be part of the new team at Camden Yards.
This post was edited on 8/20/21 at 7:44 pm
Posted by Hogwarts
Arkansas, USA
Member since Sep 2015
18301 posts
Posted on 8/17/21 at 10:06 pm to
Glad to hear. Always loved watching the kid pitch. Just seemed like a good dude who loved to fish and play baseball.
Posted by UltimateHog
Thailand
Member since Dec 2011
68485 posts
Posted on 8/17/21 at 10:07 pm to
Yeah I read an article on him just maybe a month or so ago and he was dominating. Be nice to see him in the majors.
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/17/21 at 10:50 pm to
I have no idea what happened to him in High-A during 2019, but whatever it was he's back to being a 4 pitch competitor with great fastball movement and a buckling curve.

He's now a top 25 prospect in that stacked farm system. Just noticed BA has it as the #2 system. We'll see how he does in Norfolk. That AAA SE division is no joke. The good news for Knight is that Wander Franco is now full time promoted from Durham, so one less phenom he has to pitch against.
Posted by Harry Rex Vonner
Foggy Bottom Law School
Member since Nov 2013
47297 posts
Posted on 8/18/21 at 12:07 pm to
Blaine needs a wikipedia page


Do we have someone here who can become the DiamondHog wikipedia editor/promoter?


Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/20/21 at 7:46 pm to
Im just going to keep this as a minor league update thread for former players.

Kopps got off to a great start in the Padres ACL league, 4.2 IP with 1ER, .176 average, and a 0.86 WHIP.

He got promoted to the Fort Wayne High-A club yesterday. He's in the bullpen today so wouldn't be surprised to see him on the mound this weekend. If he pitches like we all know he will, wouldn't be surprised to see him make AAA next year.
This post was edited on 8/20/21 at 7:48 pm
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/20/21 at 7:56 pm to
Great LINK here if you want to track Diamond Hogs in the majors/minors. They usually update within a couple days (e.g. Kopps is still in the rookie league).
Posted by beebefootballfan
Member since Mar 2011
20387 posts
Posted on 8/20/21 at 8:49 pm to
Goodness didn’t realize Eibner was still around.
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/20/21 at 9:59 pm to
He's been in and out of the majors.

Even crazier that Logan Forsythe was still playing this year at 34 before being released by the Nashville Sounds (Brewers).
Posted by UltimateHog
Thailand
Member since Dec 2011
68485 posts
Posted on 8/20/21 at 10:28 pm to
Yeah he made the majors hitting, then fell off and switched to pitching. Seems to be doing well on the mound.
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/21/21 at 1:54 pm to
Both Knight and Kopps got their first appearances in higher clubs yesterday.

Kopps pitched the 8th with 1H, 1K, no walks. Didn't get to watch but will catch replay as I work today.

Knight looked really good, with a 4IP save stranding 3 hits, 3Ks, and 1ER on a solo shot.

They've been using Knight a lot like this. Sometimes starting, often times extended relief that goes through the 9th. I think that's their long-term plan for him if he makes the show, being a 6th/7th starter if needed and primarily used in extended relief. I think thats probably the smart move considering he has decent/plus stuff without anything dominating, but his primary attribute is just how much of a competitor he is. Put him in against anybody at any time.
This post was edited on 8/21/21 at 1:56 pm
Posted by Pygthagorean Theorem
Member since Aug 2015
8084 posts
Posted on 8/21/21 at 2:07 pm to
I remember in Knight's last year when he would seemingly give up a solo shot in every appearance. Looks like he is still doing the same thing.
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/21/21 at 2:29 pm to
Yea, that's kind of the downside of having nothing dominant. He gave up a leadoff double in his first pitch yesterday and a single afterwards before getting out of the inning with no runs.

He's always been that way. He pitches better from the stretch and pitches up to his competition/situation. He beat Casey Mize and Brady Singer in 2018 who are now both top 3 starters for their MLB clubs. Plus Heimlich who had the talent but had other issues. But if you give him empty bases and a 3 run lead, he's going to give up a couple runs.

Honestly, he should be used exclusively for extra innings since they put a runner on 2nd to start the inning.

This post was edited on 8/21/21 at 2:31 pm
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 4:58 am to
Kopps isn't a real person.

Since being promoted to high-A a couple months since being in fricking college:

3 appearances, 3IP, 0ER, 1H, 0BB, 4Ks. I have to watch the games or check each box score since MiLB won't track the number of pitches for High-A on an aggregate basis, but he's as dominant as you think. Last outing was 12 pitches and 9 strikes. He struck out first round pick Matt McClain from UCLA in 3 pitches.

Craziest part is how fast he works. Even faster than he was in college. Greg Maddux would give him props.

BTW - I'm not in the US so I don't wake up (or go to bed from a binder) thinking about Kopps at 5AM CST.
This post was edited on 8/26/21 at 5:09 am
Posted by FleaMarketBill
Mayor of Wizard Township
Member since Apr 2010
12849 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 6:54 am to
quote:

BTW - I'm not in the US so I don't wake up (or go to bed from a binder) thinking about Kopps at 5AM CST.



We got a weirdo here
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 7:53 am to
Holy shite I got FMB to make an appearance, even if it was for a soft insult

I'll take the third place dub

3rdplacecelebration.jpg
This post was edited on 8/26/21 at 9:32 am
Posted by STLhog
Dallas, TX
Member since Jan 2015
18825 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 8:25 am to
quote:

had other issues


That's one way to put it.

Thanks for the updates man, great info.
Posted by TheCheshireHog
Cashew Chicken Country
Member since Oct 2010
41424 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 10:06 am to
Posted by Porker Face
Eden Isle
Member since Feb 2012
15951 posts
Posted on 8/28/21 at 8:07 am to
I believe you typically need to have made the majors to have one
Posted by BennyAndTheInkJets
Middle of a layover
Member since Nov 2010
5811 posts
Posted on 9/16/21 at 8:52 am to
So Kopps in his High-A career finished with:

8 appearances, 8IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 0.08BAA.

Got promoted to Double-A two days ago.

Appeared yesterday.

1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB 2K

He's going to make the show next year. Un-fricking-real.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow SECRant for SEC Football News
Follow us on X and Facebook to get the latest updates on SEC Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitter