Tony McKnight Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Tony Mark McKnight
Born 06/29/1977 in Texarkana, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
Debut 08/10/2000
Drafted in the 1st round (22nd overall) by the Houston Astros in 1995 (signed for $500,000).

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McKnight was a signability pick who accepted $500,000, the lowest bonus among first-rounders in 1995. He was overworked in high school, throwing more than 250 pitches one day, and resulting elbow and shoulder problems hindered him in his first two years as a pro. He had a breakthrough season in Double-A in 1999 and made four quality starts in six tries in his big league debut last year. He reminds scouts of Ron Darling because he'll show three plus pitches at times. He works with a 92-94 mph fastball, a curveball and a changeup. He throws strikes and has a deceptive delivery. When he was less than 100 percent physically, he was tagged with a reputation for being soft, but he has shed that and is recognized as a competitor. Though he has good stuff, McKnight must understand he's not a power pitcher. His fastball isn't especially lively, and moves less when he gets it up in the strike zone. He'll sometimes overthrow and hang his pitches. He didn't exactly overmatch hitters in the minors last year before his September callup. McKnight pitched well in Houston but would benefit from more Triple-A experience. He'll probably get it, though he could make the big league rotation with a strong spring.

McKnight almost serves as a representative for all the great pitching that passed through New Orleans this year. Like Oswalt and Redding before him, McKnight spent significant time in the big leagues this year. Unlike them, he has spent most of it with the Pirates, who acquired him for Mike Williams at the trade deadline. "We had some thoroughbreds," New Orleans pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "We're not getting pack mules or anything like that." McKnight showed a low-90s fastball consistently and got knocked around at times this season when he tried to overpower hitters. He was more effective when he used his curveball and changeup to their full effect. Managers who didn't like him say he simply doesn't miss enough bats.
McKnight was a model of consistency, the best pitcher on Jackson, the league's best pitching staff, for most of the year. He has a nice fastball and exceptional control, but his curveball is outstanding. "He has a great curveball, and his changeup is getting better," Johnson said. If there's a knock on McKnight, it's that he relies too much on the breaking pitch. A midseason bout with shoulder tendinitis slowed McKnight, but it didn't stop him. He held the TL's ERA lead for much of the second half. Managers said he has a chance to develop into a solid big league starter.

McKnight was a model of consistency, the best pitcher on Jackson, the league's best pitching staff, for most of the year. He has a nice fastball and exceptional control, but his curveball is outstanding. "He has a great curveball, and his changeup is getting better," Johnson said. If there's a knock on McKnight, it's that he relies too much on the breaking pitch. A midseason bout with shoulder tendinitis slowed McKnight, but it didn't stop him. He held the TL's ERA lead for much of the second half. Managers said he has a chance to develop into a solid big league starter.