Blaine Knight
Age: 21
2018 Level: SS-A
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 25/50/55
What we know:
Knight was a college pitching star who shown brightest on the biggest stages. At 6-3, 170 pounds, some scouts feared he may not be able to hold up physically, but he carries his stuff late into games and looks to have a frame that suggests he could put on good weight with the right professional program. He brings a four solid average big league pitches including a 91-94 MPH that has good arm-side run and sink and has been clocked as high as 97 on occasion. His slider is his go to strike out pitch with late sharp breaking action, but the curveball can also miss bats. He can throw strikes with change but it’s probably his 4th pitch at this stage. He knows himself, reads batters well, and can make adjustments based on what’s working in his repertoire.
What we don’t know:
He allowed a lot of home runs in college but the Orioles think he was throwing too many strikes. The question remains whether he was throwing too many strikes, or leaving too many pitches in the middle of the plate. We also don’t know if he can put on weight that will allow him to hold up over an entire season.
What we think:
Knight was pretty work out from his long college season so the Orioles treated him with kid gloves once he signed. They loved what they saw from him though and think he could be a fast mover in the system. Although his slider and fastball can flash plus at times, he’s more of a four-pitch guy who knows how to pitch. That sounds a lot like a guy who could end up a solid #3 or #4 starter in the big leagues.
