Marcus Knecht

Marcus Allen Knecht (born June 21, 1990) is a Canadian professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. Prior to beginning his professional career, he played college baseball at Oklahoma State University and Connors State College. Knecht has also competed for the Canadian national baseball team.

Marcus Knecht
Knecht batting for the Lansing Lugnuts
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1990-06-21) June 21, 1990
Toronto, Ontario

Career

Knecht attended St. Michael's College School in Toronto and played youth baseball with the North York Baseball Association in Toronto. He represented the Province of Ontario in the Canadian Championships. In the 23rd round (698th overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Knecht, but he did not sign.[1] Knecht enrolled at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater to play college baseball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team in the Big 12 Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I. He received only 12 at bats in 2009, which prompted him to transfer to Connors State College for 2010.[2][3]

Knecht was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round (113th overall) of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft,[1][3] with a compensation pick the Blue Jays received for failing to sign Jake Barrett the previous year.[4] Knecht made his professional debut in 2010 with the Auburn Doubledays of the Class-A Short Season New York–Penn League. He was promoted to the Lansing Lugnuts of the Class-A Midwest League in 2011. Knecht was voted the Canadian Baseball Network player of the year in 2010.[3] Prior to the 2011 season, Baseball America named Knecht the top power hitter in the Blue Jays' organization.[2] Knecht played for the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Class-A Advanced Florida State League in 2012,.[5] After remaining with Dunedin in both 2013 and 2014, he was released on March 31, 2015.

The Minnesota Twins signed Knecht to a minor-league contract on April 3, 2015. He was released by the organization on March 28, 2016.[6] In April 2016, Knecht signed with the Québec Capitales of the Can-Am League.[7] He was released on February 21, 2018.[8] On April 9, 2018, Knecht signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League.[9]

International career

Knecht has played for the Canadian national baseball team. He played in the 2008 World Junior Baseball Championship,[1] being named to the tournament All-Star team. He participated in the 2011 Baseball World Cup,[10] where Canada won the bronze medal, and the 2011 Pan American Games, where Canada won the gold medal.[11]

References
  1. "Blue Jays select Toronto native Marcus Knecht on Day". TheRecord. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  2. Griffin, Richard (February 25, 2011). "Griffin: Jays in search of Knecht big thing". thestar.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  3. nurun.com (December 30, 2010). "And the winners are... - The Sudbury Star - Ontario, CA". The Sudbury Star. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  4. "Jays select homegrown talent with Day 2 pick | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  5. "Blue Jays outfield prospect Jake Marisnick seeks steady climb through organization | bluejays.com: News". Toronto.bluejays.mlb.com. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  6. "Marcus Knecht Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  7. "Marcus Knecht avec les Capitales de Québec". rds.ca (in French). April 20, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  8. "Can-Am League Transactions". canamleague.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  9. "Leafs Sign Former Blue Jays Minor Leaguer Marcus Knecht | Intercounty Baseball League". theibl.ca. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  10. "Canada advances at IBAF World Cup". sportsnet.ca. October 9, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  11. nurun.com (January 30, 2012). "Canada golden on baseball's world stage | Bob Elliott | Columnists | Sports | London Free Press". Lfpress.com. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
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