Phillies’ Battle of Rookies

As the Phillies’ second-round draft selection behind J.P. Crawford in 2013, Knapp appeared to come from nowhere when fans spotted him before his solid 2016 in Allentown. Initially, Crawford’s media coverage had overshadowed the receiver. However, after Knapp hit .262 for the Single-A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, he blossomed at Double-A for the Reading Fightin Phils with a .360 average in 2015. The brass noticed!

At the batting cage, Alfaro stepped to the plate; he was the one the scouts came to see. They smiled as he launched one well over Frenchy’s Tiki Pavilion and then another over the scoreboard. Health-wise, he only missed three weeks until May 7 last year with a right oblique strain, which in addition to good stats is why Klentak gave the youngster a September call-up; but eight strikeouts in 17 plate appearances put doubts in many organizational minds. That stated, will strong spring numbers be enough?

"IN OTHER WORDS:     “A catcher and his body are like the outlaw and his horse. He’s got to ride that nag till it drops.” – Johnny Bench"

Next: MLB’s Non-Negotiable Ritual

Before they left, one scout remarked about another player’s solid swing, while the second replied that this catcher will be seeing some time at first base, too. And his ability to bat left-handed will allow him back up Rupp and Tommy Joseph also. What was his name again? Knapp.