Andrew Knizner Bio
Andrew Robert Knizner (born February 3, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). A native of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Knizner has spent more than a decade working his way through the minor leagues before establishing himself as a reliable big-league backup and spot starter behind the plate.
Over the course of his career, he has also played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants. He is best known for his defensive work, his strong arm, and his years of apprenticeship behind future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina in St. Louis.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Robert Knizner was born on February 3, 1995, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. He grew up in the same Hanover County community where he would later become a celebrated high school player, developing his love for baseball at a young age and spending long hours refining his catching skills on local fields.
He attended Hanover High School in Mechanicsville, where he became a team leader in his senior year. As team captain, Knizner batted .453 with five home runs and led Hanover to the Virginia Class AAA state championship, establishing himself as one of the top catching prospects in the state.
After graduating from Hanover High School, Knizner enrolled at North Carolina State University, where he played college baseball for the NC State Wolfpack. As a freshman, he was recognized as a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, an early sign of the polished approach that would later define his professional career.
Path to Baseball
Before his sophomore season at NC State, Knizner made a pivotal positional switch, moving from third base to catcher. The change shaped his entire future, giving him a clear identity as a backstop and allowing his strong arm and baseball instincts to take center stage. He spent two summers playing collegiate baseball in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League for the Wareham Gatemen, facing some of the best amateur talent in the country.
As a junior at NC State, Knizner batted .292 with six home runs and 30 RBIs while posting a .991 fielding percentage behind the plate. He also threw out 16 of 37 base runners who attempted to steal against him, demonstrating the kind of defensive polish that scouts covet in a catching prospect.
Following his junior year, Knizner was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He chose to begin his professional career immediately, signing with the Cardinals organization and reporting to their minor league system.
Andrew Knizner Career
Early Career (2016-2018)
Knizner made his professional debut in 2016 with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League and immediately impressed, batting .319 with six home runs and 42 RBIs in 53 games. His strong first season earned him a spot on the Appalachian League postseason All-Star team. He began 2017 with the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League and was selected as the starting catcher for the Midwest League All-Star Game before being promoted to the Double-A Springfield Cardinals in June.
He finished 2017 with a combined .302 batting average, 12 home runs, and 51 RBIs across 95 games, and was then assigned to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League. He earned AFL Hitter of the Week honors in his first week and was later selected for the prestigious Fall Stars Game. In 2018, Knizner split the season between Springfield and the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, batting .313 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs in 94 games, and was chosen to represent the Cardinals in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game.
St. Louis Cardinals (2019-2023)
Knizner opened 2019 in Memphis and was called up to the majors for the first time on May 31. He made his major league debut on June 2 at Busch Stadium against the Chicago Cubs, going 0-for-3 in a 2-1 Cardinals win. He recorded his first major league hit, a double, on July 17 off Chris Archer of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and hit his first major league home run a week later against Pittsburgh in a 14-8 victory.
From 2020 through 2022, Knizner served primarily as the backup to Yadier Molina, appearing in 63 games in 2021 and 96 games in 2022 as Molina battled injuries. In 2023, after agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million contract in January, he briefly took over as the Cardinals’ primary catcher when Willson Contreras shifted to designated hitter, though the change was short-lived. He appeared in 70 games that season, batting .241 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs, before being non-tendered by St. Louis in November 2023.
Texas Rangers (2024)
On January 11, 2024, Knizner signed a one-year major league contract with the Texas Rangers. In 35 games with Texas, he batted .167 with one home run and nine RBIs before being designated for assignment on August 6. He was subsequently claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 8 and assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces, where he played 20 games before being designated for assignment again in mid-September and electing free agency at the end of the season.
San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals (2025)
Knizner signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals in January 2025 and played 23 games for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, batting .382 with a .516 on-base percentage, before being released in mid-May. He quickly caught on with the San Francisco Giants organization, signing a minor league deal on May 21 and joining the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. The Giants selected his contract on June 4, and Knizner appeared in 33 games for San Francisco, batting .221 with one home run and five RBIs before being designated for assignment in November and electing free agency the same day.
Seattle Mariners Era (2025-Present)
On December 16, 2025, Knizner signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Seattle Mariners, joining the organization as an experienced catching option. The move reunited him with an American League contender and gave him a clear opportunity to contribute as a veteran backup behind the plate.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Knizner’s career are his major league debut at Busch Stadium in 2019, his first major league hit off Chris Archer, and his first major league home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was also selected to represent the Cardinals in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game and was a Cape Cod Baseball League standout with the Wareham Gatemen. His signing with the Seattle Mariners in December 2025 marked his fifth major league organization.
Andrew Knizner Family
Personal Life
On December 20, 2024, Andrew Robert Knizner married Ally Rahn, a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader, in Jupiter, Florida. The couple’s wedding was a private family ceremony attended by friends and teammates.
2025 Season Performance
Knizner’s 2025 season was defined by movement between organizations as he worked to reestablish himself in the majors. He began the year with the Washington Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, putting up strong offensive numbers before being released in mid-May. He then joined the San Francisco Giants system, and after a brief stint in Sacramento, was added to the Giants’ major league roster in early June.
With San Francisco, he served as a backup catcher and posted a .221 batting average with one home run and five RBIs in 33 appearances. Although he did not log extensive playing time, he provided reliable defense and veteran leadership behind the plate during his months with the club. He was designated for assignment in November and elected free agency the same day.
Knizner’s free agency did not last long, as he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Seattle Mariners in mid-December. Heading into 2025-26 offseason workouts and the following campaign, he is positioned as a dependable catching depth piece for a Mariners team looking to contend in the American League.