Corey Knebel Stats & Scouting Report

IP	3.1
ERA	0
WHIP	.3
BB/9	2.7
SO/9	5.4

Full name Corey Andrew Knebel
Born 11/26/1991 in Denton, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 224 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Texas
Debut 05/24/2014
Drafted in the CB-A round (39th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2013 (signed for $1,433,400).

View Draft Report

Like Huston Street before him, Knebel went from an unheralded Texas high schooler to an instant star with the Longhorns. He ranked second in NCAA Division I with 19 saves as a freshman in 2011 and has been one of college baseball's top closers for three years. Compared to Street, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Knebel is more physical and has more power to his pitches. His fastball ranges from 91-98 mph, and when he stays on top of it, he has a hard curveball with depth that can reach the low 80s. He has deception in his delivery that makes it tough to pick up his pitches but doesn't prevent him from throwing strikes. Knebel has the frame and enough feel for a changeup for a pro team to consider using him in the rotation, a role he filled for three starts at the end of 2012. With his two power pitches and his competitive makeup, but he has big league closer upside and could reach that ceiling quickly. Knebel has been suspended twice this spring in the midst of a disappointing season for Texas, once for a confrontation with a coach and once for reportedly substituting his urine for a teammate's drug test. Neither incident is expected to affect his draft status.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Tigers took Knebel with the No. 39 pick in the 2013 draft and he moved quickly, opening 2014 at Double-A Erie, reaching Triple-A Toledo in May and making his major league debut against the Rangers on May 24. In July, the Tigers traded him with righthander Jake Thompson to the Rangers to acquire reliever Joakim Soria. Knebel spent the remainder of 2014 at Triple-A Round Rock, though he came down with an elbow injury that didn't require surgery, so he spent his offseason in the Rangers' rehab program. Knebel has a lively fastball from the low 90s up to 98 mph. His low-80s curveball is a plus to double-plus pitch with tight spin and sharp, late action, giving him two swing-and-miss pitches to strike out hitters at a high clip. Knebel's delivery is full of effort and his arm action is short and funky, but he's a solid strikethrower and the quirky mechanics give him added deception. Knebel is just about big league ready and should help the Rangers bullpen in 2015, and he offers closer potential down the line.
Knebel followed the Huston Street career path, going from undrafted high schooler to immediate success at Texas, where he ranked second in NCAA Division I with 19 saves as a freshman in 2011. After two more seasons as one of the best closers in the nation, Knebel went to the Tigers with the No. 39 pick in the 2013 draft and signed for $1,433,400. He then looked electric for short-season Connecticut in his pro debut and pitched in the Arizona Fall League. Knebel has high-octane stuff, firing 91-98 mph fastballs for strikes with downhill plane and explosive late life. His low-80s hammer curveball has power, tight spin and late break, earning a few 70 grades and plenty of swings and misses. Knebel doesn't have much need for a changeup, but he's shown feel for that pitch too. He has a max-effort delivery with a short, funky arm stroke and head tilt, but he throws strikes. Deception in his delivery helps hide his release point from hitters. Given his stuff and ability to throw strikes, Knebel could move quickly through the system as a potential closer, though some Tigers officials want to try him in the rotation. He appears destined for high Class A Lakeland in 2014.

Draft Prospects

Like Huston Street before him, Knebel went from an unheralded Texas high schooler to an instant star with the Longhorns. He ranked second in NCAA Division I with 19 saves as a freshman in 2011 and has been one of college baseball's top closers for three years. Compared to Street, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Knebel is more physical and has more power to his pitches. His fastball ranges from 91-98 mph, and when he stays on top of it, he has a hard curveball with depth that can reach the low 80s. He has deception in his delivery that makes it tough to pick up his pitches but doesn't prevent him from throwing strikes. Knebel has the frame and enough feel for a changeup for a pro team to consider using him in the rotation, a role he filled for three starts at the end of 2012. With his two power pitches and his competitive makeup, but he has big league closer upside and could reach that ceiling quickly. Knebel has been suspended twice this spring in the midst of a disappointing season for Texas, once for a confrontation with a coach and once for reportedly substituting his urine for a teammate's drug test. Neither incident is expected to affect his draft status.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Curveball in the Detroit Tigers in 2014

Career Transactions

Salt Lake Bees released RHP Corey Knebel.
RHP Corey Knebel assigned to Salt Lake Bees.
Los Angeles Angels signed free agent RHP Corey Knebel to a minor league contract.
RHP Corey Knebel elected free agency.
Charlotte Knights activated RHP Corey Knebel from the 7-day injured list.
Charlotte Knights sent RHP Corey Knebel on a rehab assignment to Winston-Salem Dash.
Charlotte Knights sent RHP Corey Knebel on a rehab assignment to ACL White Sox.
RHP Corey Knebel assigned to Charlotte Knights.
Chicago White Sox signed free agent RHP Corey Knebel to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.