Landon Knack has become one of the top Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospects, but his start to the season was delayed due to dealing with a soft tissue injury.
On Saturday, Knack finally returned to the mound and started for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in their matchup against the Wichita Wind Surge, a Minnesota Twins affiliate. The 24-year-old prospect only pitched two innings as he builds his arm back up, but overall enjoyed positive results.
Knack struck out four of the 11 hitters faced and saw his fastball sit 96-97 mph while topping out at 99 mph. Knack did allow a home run, RBI double and walked a batter.
He finished his day throwing 53 pitches, 34 for strikes, and forced three groundouts.
Knack has been drawing high praise within the organization, including some from Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes, who called the right-hander someone who is on their radar and incredibly talented.
The Dodgers selected Knack in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft and he has risen rapidly through the farm system thanks to his advanced feel for pitching. Knack could make his MLB debut at some point in the 2022 season, according to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, and he ultimately projects as a middle or back of the rotation starter.
In his Minor League career, Knack has thrown 64.1 innings across 17 games while striking out an astonishing 86 hitters and posting a 3.22 ERA.
Knack among Dodgers representatives at 2021 Fall Stars game
The Dodgers were represented in the 2021 Fall Stars Game by Knack, Bobby Miller and James Outman, each of whom had an encouraging showing despite being on a West team that fell 6-5 to the East.
Knack followed Miller out of the bullpen and retired the first two batters faced before surrendering a home run to Hunter Bishop of the San Francisco Giants. He finished with one strikeout in his lone inning of work.
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