Christian Knapczyk Stats & Scouting Report

AB	320
AVG	.25
OBP	.382
SLG	.35
HR	2

Full name Christian Joseph Michael Knapczyk
Born 12/16/2001 in Palos Park, IL
Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 165 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Louisville
Drafted in the 5th round (161st overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 (signed for $385,000).

View Draft Report

School: Louisville Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 20. Run: 60. Field: 55. Arm: 45.

Knapczyk has steadily improved his offensive production since getting to Louisville, while showing standout bat-to-ball skills each season. During his 2023 draft year, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound shortstop hit .331/.455/.408 with just one home run, but 19 stolen bases, a 9% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate. There’s a bit of a Nick Madrigal-esque profile with Knapczyk, as an undersized and light-hitting middle infielder who is a shortstop now and might slide over to second base in pro ball. He has homered just three times in his college career, and in 2023 posted an 83 mph average exit velocity and 99.4 mph 90th percentile mark. He’s got bottom-of-the-scale power without the physical projection to dream of more coming, and should instead find success as a hitter by grinding out at-bats, taking walks and spraying the ball to all fields with plus contact skills. He made contact at an 89% rate this spring, though he does add a bit more swing-and-miss vs. secondary pitches. Knapczyk is a plus runner with impressive defensive actions and hands up the middle, but his fringe-average throwing arm might play better at second base—though sticking at shortstop would likely help his overall profile and could allow him to have value as a super-utility infield type.

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Draft Prospects

School: Louisville Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 20. Run: 60. Field: 55. Arm: 45.

Knapczyk has steadily improved his offensive production since getting to Louisville, while showing standout bat-to-ball skills each season. During his 2023 draft year, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound shortstop hit .331/.455/.408 with just one home run, but 19 stolen bases, a 9% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate. There’s a bit of a Nick Madrigal-esque profile with Knapczyk, as an undersized and light-hitting middle infielder who is a shortstop now and might slide over to second base in pro ball. He has homered just three times in his college career, and in 2023 posted an 83 mph average exit velocity and 99.4 mph 90th percentile mark. He’s got bottom-of-the-scale power without the physical projection to dream of more coming, and should instead find success as a hitter by grinding out at-bats, taking walks and spraying the ball to all fields with plus contact skills. He made contact at an 89% rate this spring, though he does add a bit more swing-and-miss vs. secondary pitches. Knapczyk is a plus runner with impressive defensive actions and hands up the middle, but his fringe-average throwing arm might play better at second base—though sticking at shortstop would likely help his overall profile and could allow him to have value as a super-utility infield type.
A 5-foot-9, 150-pound shortstop, Knapczyk has a solid understanding of his game. He doesn’t try to get too big in his swing, instead making plenty of contact, using the entire field and laying down a bunt when it’s warranted. He’s a plus runner with above-average defense at shortstop and an accurate arm. Knapczyk would have been a tough draft out of high school even in a normal draft year. With just 160 players being drafted, he will almost certainly get a chance to head to Louisville. If he continues to show a solid understanding of the game as a Cardinal, he will get a chance to rise up draft boards in a few years.