Blaine Knight

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #22 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Knight was an All-American atop the Arkansas rotation who outdueled every top pitcher in the country as a junior and helped the Razorbacks to the College World Series before signing for an above-slot $1.1 million. He pitched like the experienced college arm he was at low Class A Delmarva to start the year before he lost his command and struggled to put hitters away later in the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Knight came to the Orioles with elite spin rate on his slider and curveball, but the utility of those pitches came into question in 2019. Below-average command of those pitches undercut what could be above-average shape and movement on them, and while there's some life on his 91-94 mph fastball, he got into fastball counts and couldn't get it past hitters. Knight had no such problems in college and showed he was durable despite his slight frame. He came through a difficult year with quiet confidence.
  
  THE FUTURE: Despite his struggles, Knight's potential for three above-average pitches if he irons out his command makes him a candidate to be at least a No. 5 starter and potentially better, though he may return to high Class A Frederick in 2020 to check that level off.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #10 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Once Knight was done with an All-American junior year that included beating every top pitcher and going undefeated in the Southeastern Conference, then pitching Arkansas to the finals of the College World Series, the Orioles signed him to an above-slot $1.1 million bonus as a third-round pick. They gave him a break before sending him to short-season Aberdeen, where he essentially continued working as a Friday starter on a pitch count before he went back to finish his degree.
  
  Scouting Report: Knight worked 91-95 mph at Aberdeen after a long college season, showing an elite spin rate on both an 82-84 mph slider and his slower curveball, plus a potential above-average changeup. What stood out to the Orioles in their brief look was his aptitude for mixing his pitches and the purpose with which he threw each pitch. Knight's lean frame shows some projection, as does his athleticism and his loose arm action.
  
  The Future: Such a feel for pitching and the weapons Knight has means there won't be much resistance on his path to a No. 3 starter ceiling in the low minors, though his heavy workload at Arkansas and his slight build will naturally cause durability concerns.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #36 prospect in 2018 draft
  Ranked No. 84 on the 2017 BA 500 as a talented, but skinny, righthander with a lot of projection, Knight was drafted by the Rangers in the 29th round as a draft-eligible sophomore. Instead of signing, he chose to come back for his junior season at Arkansas, where he has been one of the best starters in the SEC. Through the first 10 starts of his junior season, Knight is 6-0, 2.24, including a matchup against Casey Mize in which the Auburn ace was handed his first loss of the season. Knight has added a few pounds between his sophomore and junior seasons, but still has plenty of room to add more strength to a thin frame. Listed at 6-foot-3, 165 pounds, Knight''s electric arm allows him to get into the mid-90s with his fastball and snap off one of the highest spin-rate breaking balls in the country. Knight's track record in the SEC alone would get him drafted, with his highest ERA over a full season checking in at 3.28. Add in the fact that Knight is one of the more projectable juniors in the class who has shown the ability to throw strikes and there's a lot more teams can dream on down the line, especially considering his quick arm, growing frame and high-end feel for spin.
• Ranked #87 prospect in 2017 draft
  Knight made an immediate impact for the Razorbacks as a freshman, splitting time between the rotation and the bullpen while posting a stellar 2.98 ERA. But Knight has taken a significant step forward as a draft-eligible sophomore. Knight is a skinny 6-foot-3, 165 pounds, which leads some scouts to believe he has some projection left in him, although his narrow frame limits how much good weight he can add. Whether he fills out more or not, his present stuff is good enough. Knight will pitch at 90-94 mph, but he'll touch 96-97 at his best with his plus fastball. He's consistently around the strike zone with above-average control. Knight relies a lot on his slider. He toys with the size of its break and it sometimes looks more like a cutter with shorter, firm break. At other times, it's too big and lacks bite. His average-at-best changeup is a better pitch. As a sophomore, Knight has plenty of leverage, as he can return to try to be Arkansas' ace next year while improving his secondary offerings, but his fastball and control could be enough to land him in the third round if teams are comfortable with his willingness to sign.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Knight was an All-American atop the Arkansas rotation who outdueled every top pitcher in the country as a junior and helped the Razorbacks to the College World Series before signing for an above-slot $1.1 million. He pitched like the experienced college arm he was at low Class A Delmarva to start the year before he lost his command and struggled to put hitters away later in the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Knight came to the Orioles with elite spin rate on his slider and curveball, but the utility of those pitches came into question in 2019. Below-average command of those pitches undercut what could be above-average shape and movement on them, and while there’s some life on his 91-94 mph fastball, he got into fastball counts and couldn’t get it past hitters. Knight had no such problems in college and showed he was durable despite his slight frame. He came through a difficult year with quiet confidence.
  
  THE FUTURE: Despite his struggles, Knight’s potential for three above-average pitches if he irons out his command makes him a candidate to be at least a No. 5 starter and potentially better, though he may return to high Class A Frederick in 2020 to check that level off. BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 45 Risk: High
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Knight was an All-American atop the Arkansas rotation who outdueled every top pitcher in the country as a junior and helped the Razorbacks to the College World Series before signing for an above-slot $1.1 million. He pitched like the experienced college arm he was at low Class A Delmarva to start the year before he lost his command and struggled to put hitters away later in the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Knight came to the Orioles with elite spin rate on his slider and curveball, but the utility of those pitches came into question in 2019. Below-average command of those pitches undercut what could be above-average shape and movement on them, and while there's some life on his 91-94 mph fastball, he got into fastball counts and couldn't get it past hitters. Knight had no such problems in college and showed he was durable despite his slight frame. He came through a difficult year with quiet confidence.
  
  THE FUTURE: Despite his struggles, Knight's potential for three above-average pitches if he irons out his command makes him a candidate to be at least a No. 5 starter and potentially better, though he may return to high Class A Frederick in 2020 to check that level off.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Once Knight was done with an All-American junior year that included beating every top pitcher and going undefeated in the Southeastern Conference, then pitching Arkansas to the finals of the College World Series, the Orioles signed him to an above-slot $1.1 million bonus. They gave him a break before sending him to short-season Aberdeen, where he essentially continued working as a Friday starter on a pitch count before he went back to finish his degree. Scouting Report: Knight worked 91-95 mph at Aberdeen after a long college season, showing elite spin rate on both an 82-84 mph slider and his slower curveball, plus a potential above-average changeup. What stood out to the Orioles in their brief look was his aptitude for mixing his pitches and the purpose with which he threw each pitch. Knight’s lean frame shows some projection, as does his athleticism and his loose arm action. The Future: Such a feel for pitching and the weapons Knight has means there won’t be much resistance on his path to a No. 3 starter’s ceiling in the low minors, though his heavy workload at Arkansas and his slight build will naturally cause durability concerns.