Kyle Knudson

[IdahoPilgrim]

Kyle Knudson

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Heights: 6’3” Weight: 210lb

 

Born: 9/12/1987 in Fayetteville, NC (age 25)

School: University of Minnesota

Acquired in the 9^th Round of the 2010 entry draft

 

Kyle is predominantly a catcher, although he has played a handful of games in the infield. After being drafted in 2010 Kyle was in Elizabethton that year, sharing plate duty with Jhonatan Arias and Buddy Monroe, batting .261/.309/.344. The next year (2011) was spent in Beloit where he shared back-up duty with Arias behind Tobias Stretch, putting up a slash line of .226/.268/.278.

 

In 2012 he started again in Beloit but was moved up mid-year to Fort Myers and showed a more prominent role, sharing catching duties with Josmil Pinto and Dan Rohlfing. He offensive production also improved to .252/.360/.321, his best numbers in his professional career. Kyle has started 2013 in Fort Myers, sharing time with Matt Koch, and is off to the best start of his career (.409/.480/.591).

 

His fielding has been a question mark recently. In 2010 and 2011 he put up average numbers, but in 2012 his caught stealing pct dropped to 24% and he allowed 13 passed balls in 63 games. In 2013 so far runners have stolen successfully 6 out of 7 times.

 

While he is not on most peoples’ prospect lists and probably does not project to have more than a minor league career, there is always hope that he will be a late-bloomer, proving the pundits wrong. Go Kyle!

[IdahoPilgrim]

It's been a good half-week for Kyle since I opened this adopt-a-prospect thread. Still sharing time with Koch behind the plate, Kyle has made his opportunities count.

 

On Thursday Kyle went 2 for 5, including a 2-RBI double in the 3rd that helped Fort Myers to a 11-8 win over St. Lucie.

 

On Sunday Kyle also excelled, although this time in a losing cause, going 2 for 3 with a 2-run homer in the fourth that tied the game.

 

In both games, he threw out a runner stealing, and he is currently leading the Miracle with a 1.214 OPS (.433/.514/.700).

 

Keep it up, Kyle!

[IdahoPilgrim]

Kyle didn't get as much time in the lineup as previous weeks, with Koch taking a larger role. On Monday he went 2 for 4, and Friday he was 0 for 4. He also came in as a late sub on Saturday when Koch was pulled for a pinch-runner, and did manage to get a walk in his lone plate appearance that game.

 

All in all a quiet week, but overall he has still had a fine season, hitting .400/.481/.578 and still second on the team in OPS, just behind Sano.

[IdahoPilgrim]

It's not often someone can go 3-for-8 the first week in May and have their average drop, but that just shows the start Kyle has had this year. Kyle started two games and came in late in a third. He added another RBI to his total (9 for the year now) and is now batting .388/.464/.551.

 

Defensively the week was a push, as he threw out a runner at 2nd in Thursday's game, but had a passed ball last Sunday.

 

In spite of the start, Kyle will no doubt be disappointed as he has been placed on the DL for issues with his Achilles tendon.

 

Here's hoping for a quick recovery and that he can keep his form going.

[Seth Stohs]

Sounds like he shouldn't be out too long at all, which is a good thing. He's showing that when he is healthy, he can play!

[IdahoPilgrim]

Back in action last week, Kyle looks like he's trying to shake off some rust from being out a couple of weeks. He started 3 games, 2 behind the plate and 1 as DH. Collectively he went 2-for-11, with both hits (singles) coming on Sunday.

 

This drops his season line to .362/.448/.500, still second in OPS behind Sano among batters with four games or more.

[IdahoPilgrim]

It was another average week for Kyle, although a good showing as DH on Thursday perked his numbers up a bit, going 3-for-4 with a double. In three other games behind the plate he went 2-for-10, and grounded into several double plays throughout the week. Defensively he threw 2 out stealing on Friday and participated in a double play, but also gave up 3 stolen bases on Wednesday, with Salcedo pitching.

 

Overall he is at .361/.439/.486 for the year and he appears to have notched up his defense over last year, throwing out 38% stolen base attempts. A solid year all in all, but with several other good catchers working their way up the system it will still be a challenge to stand out.

 

 

Post-Script: Just heard that Kyle was promoted to AA New Britain today. Glad to see that his performance this year has been noted. Could this be the start of the next Colabello-type story?

[IdahoPilgrim]

It is often said that the largest gap in the system, in terms of difficulty, is the gap from high-A to Double-A. Kyle's numbers this week indicate that that is not without validity. Kyle played three games last week after being promoted to New Britain and showed that he will need to adjust to a higher caliber of play, going 1-for-9 for the week, with his lone RBI coming from a sac fly in Wednesday's game.

 

His overall numbers are still good (.333/.402/.444) but we will be hoping that Kyle can adjust and figure out Double-AA pitching quickly.

[IdahoPilgrim]

The disadvantage of being promoted as a backup is you don't get to play as often as you would hope, particularly when you are backing up Josmil Pinto, who is on the 40-man roster and is angling for a spot on the big club. Kyle got into two games last week. The good news is that he's starting to figure out Double-A pitching, going 4-for-9 overall, thanks to a super 3-hit Saturday where he knocked in 4 runs.

 

His Double-A stats are .278/.300/.278; not what he was doing in Fort Myers but still showing improvement. Overall he is at .344/.412/.444.

 

Defensively another so-so week, with a stolen base and a catcher's interference call on Thursday.

[Mr. Ed]

It is often said that the largest gap in the system, in terms of difficulty, is the gap from high-A to Double-A. Kyle's numbers this week indicate that that is not without validity. Kyle played three games last week after being promoted to New Britain and showed that he will need to adjust to a higher caliber of play, going 1-for-9 for the week, with his lone RBI coming from a sac fly in Wednesday's game.

 

His overall numbers are still good (.333/.402/.444) but we will be hoping that Kyle can adjust and figure out Double-AA pitching quickly.

 

He'll be 26 in September. Another guy that with injuries and some inconsistency, has lingered down low too long.

 

Thankfully there are still examples of guys hanging on in MN that get the promotions they deserve. DJ Romero now in AAA, FINALLY showing his talents,and Angel Morales FINALLY getting to AA.

[IdahoPilgrim]

As to be expected, Kyle didn't get as much playing time this week - that's the downside to being promoted to AA to be a backup to Josmil Pinto, who is on the 40-man roster. Kyle did play in two games, going 1-for-4 on Thursday and going 3-for-5 in the first game Saturday (including 4 RBI).

 

That moves his AA numbers to .318/.385/.318, very respectable but not yet showing the power he did in Fort Myers. Still, Kyle has to be encouraged that he is apparently starting to figure out AA pitching. Overall he is .351/.426/.447.

 

Defensively is still a bit of a struggle, giving up another stolen base and another error for catcher interference on Thursday. Runners have now stolen 6 out of 7 tries since Kyle's move to New Britain, and that will be an area of his game he will need to be mindful of.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I decided to add a second post this week, ruminating on the future. Offensively Kyle seems to be coming alive this year and is breaking out a bit compared to his historical averages. Hopefully this is the sign of a late-maturing player finally coming into his own, and not just a fluke that will revert to his typical numbers.

 

Even if it is a sign of a late-bloomer, however, one has to wonder what the future may hold, at least as a Minnesota Twin. Right now the catcher position is one at which the organization is flush. While Doumit's future may well be elsewhere, and while Mauer may eventually transition to 1st, and even putting aside the lightning-rod that is Drew Butera, there are still many catchers in the organization that probably rank above Kyle on the pecking list - Herrmann, Pinto, Koch, and then the whole new trio they have drafted and signed this year.

 

I find myself wondering if Kyle will be able to claw his way ahead in the organization's lists, or if his dreams of major league play will only come true at another organization. Only time will tell.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Hey IdahoPilgrim, thank you.

 

I've looked in on these from time to time. Appreciate how often you update this.

 

Kyle seems like a personable, hard working kid. Also, he will pretty much have to crush AA pitching if he is going to move up in this, or any other, organization.

That said, not a bad week.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Two starts for Kyle this week. On Thursday he went 2-for-3. He also threw out a runner at second (another stole successfully).

 

On Saturday Kyle went 1-for-2 and reached also after being hit by a pitch. The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, and Kyle was pulled in the 9th for a pinch hitter. One has to wonder if that was in part a reaction to a passed ball Kyle had in the 8th, allowing a run to score, moving the Rockcats to a 3-run deficit.

 

His numbers show the improvement since his promotion to Double-AA: .370/.455/.370. Overall for the year: .364/.443/.455

[IdahoPilgrim]

It's been a rough couple of weeks for Kyle as he has gone into a slump at the plate. He has now gone hitless in 5 of his last 6 games, going 2-for-17 the last two weeks. This brings his Double-A numbers down to .273/.365/.295 and his overall numbers to .328/.410/.414

 

Defensively it has also been a bit rough, giving up 5 stolen bases and 1 passed ball, with none caught stealing. That brings his season CS% down to 27%. While these are still ahead of last years numbers, they will need to improve if he is to advance or even stay in New Britain.

 

Slumps happen to all of us - let's hope this one doesn't last too long.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Another tough week for Kyle, getting into only one game, on Sunday, and going 0-for-3. That pushed his Double-A numbers to .255/.345/.277 for a .622 OPS.

 

After a sharp 10-for-27 start, Kyle has now gotten only 2 hits in his last 20 at-bats at New Britain and has struggled to get playing time.

 

Not surprisingly, Kyle has been sent back to Fort Myers.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I will not be updating this thread further. If anybody else wants to take over and provide updates they are welcome to do so.