The Phillies have agreed to terms with their second-round pick, catcher Andrew Knapp, tweets Jim Callis of Baseball America. The University of California catcher, who is being advised by Adam Karon of Sosnick Cobbe Sports, will receive a $1,033,100 bonus that matches the suggested slot value for the 53rd overall pick (per Baseball America).
Callis tabbed the switch-hitting Knapp as the best college catcher in this year's draft. Baseball America, ESPN's Keith Law, and MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo all concurred with that analysis, and ranked Knapp (respectively) as the 71st, 65th, and 56th best overall draft prospect.
As Mayo explains, Knapp is relatively raw as a backstop since he did not play the position in his first two college seasons. But with a solid arm and the potential to hit at a high average and for power, Knapp stood out among a weak class of college catchers.
Knapp's father, Mike Knapp, was a career minor leaguer who spent most of his time behind the dish. Younger brother Aaron is following the footsteps of his father and older brother to attend Cal as an outfielder.
