2011 Stats: Did Not Play
Let's be clear, Jason has the best stuff in the Indians system. His fastball blazes in at 99 mph and scouts predict that, given the opportunity to refine a repeatable delivery, Knapp should break triple digits. His second pitch is a big 12-6 curveball that he both commands within the zone and can use as a swing-and-miss pitch. While his change-up and slide piece are still developing, his work ethic would indicate their success to be simply a matter of time. Jason has an imposing frame that backs up his powerful delivery and aggressive mindset. Having grown up in New Jersey, he should have no issue acclimating to the Aprils and Septembers (Octobers?) of the North Coast. So what's the problem? Yeah, you guessed it: injuries. I don't know if you're sensing the theme with these young pitchers, but soooooooo many of them have had arm trouble and Jason is the poster boy. When he was acquired from the Phillies as the lynch pin the Cliff Lee trade, Knapp was experiencing bicep tendinitis. The Indians were unaware and by no fault of their own. MLB does not allow MRIs as part of pre-trade evaluations. Oops, bad luck. After pitching just four games in the organization, Jason resigned himself to off-season arthroscopic shoulder surgery. An overly cautious front office then kept him out of game action until late July in 2010. 2011 was the worst of all. Held back in extended Spring Training with weakness in his throwing shoulder, his season was, in early June, scrapped for a second shoulder procedure. Knapp's career numbers (6-10, 3.63, 1.20 WHIP, .208 OBA, 4.1 BB/9, 12.0 K/9) and those in the Tribe organization (1-2, 3.60, 1.18 WHIP, .190 OBA, 3.6 BB/9, 13.3 K/9) are outstanding, but with the two shoulder surgeries on his resume and 0 innings pitched above A ball, his big league chances have now been relegated to that of a "long shot." That, my friends, is why the man with the highest ceiling in the system is ranked #19; the smart money is on the guy never staying healthy enough to actually make it to the bigs.
Up Next: #18 RHP Hector Rondon
