Inside The Cardinals

Ex-Cardinals Fan-Favorite Available After Surprising Release

The former Cardinal is out there on the open market...
Patrick McAvoy|
Sep 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of the hat and glove of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (not pictured) before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Sep 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of the hat and glove of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (not pictured) before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsWashington Nationals

One former St. Louis Cardinals fan-favorite is hitting the open market after a surprising release.

Former Cardinals catcher Andrew Knizner has been in the Washington Nationals' farm system this year. He appeared in 23 games in Triple-A and slashed .382/.516/.500 with one homer and 11 RBIs before the team cut ties with him on Saturday as shared by the Washington Post’s Andrew Golden and MLB Trade Rumors' Mark Polishuk.

"The Nationals are set to release catcher Andrew Knizner, the Washington Post’s Andrew Golden reports," Polishuk shared. "The transaction comes in advance of an opt-out date in Knizner’s minor league contract this weekend, and the Nats have chosen to move on from the 30-year-old backstop rather than overwrite his opt-out by adding him to the big league roster.

"It’s hard to say that Knizner could’ve gone any more to merit a call-up, as he is hitting .382/.516/.500 over 91 plate appearances with Triple-A Rochester. This eye-popping slash line is obviously a huge improvement over Knizner’s much more modest career numbers in the minors, as well as his .210/.279/.317 slash line over 887 career PA in the majors with the Cardinals and Rangers from 2019-24."

Knizner is just 30 years old and spent parts of five seasons at the big league level for St. Louis. He spent time with the Texas Rangers in 2024 but hasn't appeared in any games at the big league level yet. What's next for the former Cardinal?

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Patrick McAvoy
PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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