Landon Knack Bio
Landon Dakota Knack (born July 15, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024 after being selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2020 MLB draft, having previously played college baseball for the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. His career highlight to date is being a World Series champion in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Landon Dakota Knack was born on July 15, 1997, and grew up in the Johnson City, Tennessee, area. He attended Science Hill High School, where he developed into a prospect worthy of college recruitment. His time at Science Hill laid the foundation for the disciplined, strike-throwing approach that has followed him into professional baseball.
After high school, Knack continued his playing career at East Tennessee State University, suiting up for the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. At the collegiate level, he sharpened his mechanics and built the durability that teams look for in starting pitchers. His performance with the Buccaneers was strong enough to put him on the radar of Major League Baseball scouts heading into the 2020 draft.
Path to Baseball
Knack’s path to professional baseball was briefly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. After being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2020 MLB draft, he did not appear in a game that year because the entire minor league season was canceled. He waited a full year before finally taking a professional mound.
When play resumed, Knack began climbing the Dodgers’ farm system. His development through the lower levels was steady, and he showed the kind of control and strikeout ability that suggested he could impact a major league rotation in time. The combination of a polished college background and a strong debut campaign set the stage for his rapid rise through the organization.
Landon Knack Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Landon Dakota Knack made his professional debut in 2021, starting the year with the Great Lakes Loons before earning a midseason promotion to the Tulsa Drillers. Between the two levels, he went 7–1 with a 3.18 ERA in 16 appearances, including 11 starts, striking out 82 batters while walking only eight. That strong command profile drew enough attention for him to be invited to the Arizona Fall League with the Glendale Desert Dogs after the season.
In 2022, Knack returned to Tulsa for a full season, making 17 starts. The year was a tougher learning experience, as he posted a 2–10 record and a 5.01 ERA. Despite the results, the innings were valuable for his long-term development, and he came back the next season with a renewed focus.
Minor League Breakthrough (2023)
Knack opened the 2023 season back in Tulsa and quickly reestablished himself. In 12 starts, he went 2–0 with a 2.20 ERA and recorded 61 strikeouts across 57 and one-third innings. The performance was strong enough to earn him a promotion to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers on June 17.
At the Triple-A level, Knack continued to produce, going 3–1 with a 2.93 ERA in 10 starts while striking out 38 hitters in 43 innings. His success at both Double-A and Triple-A demonstrated that he was ready for an opportunity at the major league level.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2023–Present)
The Dodgers added Landon Dakota Knack to their 40-man roster on November 14, 2023, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He made the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster for the 2024 season, though he did not pitch during the team’s two games in Seoul, South Korea, and was optioned back to Oklahoma City to begin the year. He drew the opening day start for Oklahoma City and struck out six across five scoreless innings.
Knack was promoted back to the majors and made his MLB debut on April 17, 2024, starting against the Washington Nationals. He allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts, recording his first major league strikeout against Nick Senzel. He earned his first MLB win on April 24, also against the Nationals. Across the 2024 season, he went 3–5 with a 3.65 ERA in 15 games, including 12 starts, striking out 69 batters.
Knack made the Dodgers’ 2024 postseason roster and pitched one scoreless inning in the National League Division Series. He struggled in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks in only two innings. In the 2024 World Series, he pitched four innings in Game 4, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two, as the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in five games to claim the championship.
In 2025, Knack split time between the Dodgers and Oklahoma City. With Los Angeles, he made seven starts and three relief appearances, going 3–2 with a 4.89 ERA. Most of his innings came in the minors, where he made 21 appearances, including 18 starts, posting a 6–6 record and a 7.01 ERA.
Driving Style and Strengths
Knack’s greatest strength has been his elite control, as evidenced by his professional walk rates and his strong strikeout-to-walk ratios throughout the minor leagues. He works efficiently, pounds the strike zone, and shows the poise of a polished college arm, traits that have allowed him to navigate major league lineups despite still refining his secondary offerings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Landon Dakota Knack’s signature moments include his MLB debut on April 17, 2024, his first major league win on April 24, 2024, and his appearance in the 2024 World Series, which the Dodgers won in five games over the New York Yankees. Being part of a championship roster in his first full major league season stands as the headline milestone of his young career.
Landon Knack Career Wins
Landon Dakota Knack’s career wins span the minor league levels and his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He reached the majors in 2024 and immediately contributed to a World Series title, providing early validation of the Dodgers’ investment in him as a second-round pick.
Major League Highlights
Knack earned his first MLB victory on April 24, 2024, against the Washington Nationals, the same opponent he had faced in his debut one week earlier. He finished the 2024 regular season 3–5 with a 3.65 ERA across 15 games, and he added a World Series ring with the Dodgers’ five-game victory over the Yankees.
Other Wins and Performances
In the minors, Knack has collected wins at every stop along the Dodgers’ system, including a standout 7–1 campaign in 2021 split between the Great Lakes Loons and Tulsa Drillers. His 2023 work at Tulsa and Oklahoma City further cemented his reputation as a reliable winner before his promotion to the majors.
Landon Knack Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Landon Dakota Knack’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in the Johnson City, Tennessee, area and attended Science Hill High School before moving on to East Tennessee State University.
Personal Life
Details about Knack’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not widely documented in public sources. He is known to be active on social media, where he shares updates about his baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of shuttling between the Dodgers and Oklahoma City for Landon Dakota Knack. With Los Angeles, he has served in a swing role, making seven starts and three relief appearances and posting a 3–2 record with a 4.89 ERA. His major league innings have provided the Dodgers with a dependable arm when called upon.
The larger portion of his 2025 work has come in the minors with Oklahoma City, where he has made 21 appearances, including 18 starts, going 6–6 with a 7.01 ERA. The Triple-A workload has kept him stretched out as a starter and ready to step in when Los Angeles needs depth.
Looking ahead, Knack remains a depth option for the Dodgers’ pitching staff with an eye on earning a more permanent role. His 2024 World Series experience and consistent minor league track record suggest he has the tools to compete for innings in future major league rotations.