| Reiss Knehr | |
| Team: | San Diego Padres |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 3 November 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Manhasset, New York, U.S. |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | July 9 |
| Debutyear: | 2021 |
| Debutteam: | San Diego Padres |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2023 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 1–3 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 5.96 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 34 |
| Teams: |
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David Reiss Knehr (;[1] born November 3, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2021 for the Padres.
Knehr was born in Manhasset, New York and grew up in Glen Head, New York. He attended St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, New York.
Knehr played college baseball at Fordham University for three seasons, playing both as pitcher and as a shortstop. He was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team after leading the Rams with a 2.25 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched.[2] Following his freshman year, Knehr pitched for the Westhampton Aviators of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League and was named the league's Pitcher of the Year.[3] As a junior, Knehr went 6–3 on the mound with a 2.40 ERA, 93 strikeouts and a 1.33 WHIP in 90 innings pitched.[4] In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[5]
The San Diego Padres selected Knehr in the 20th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[6] After signing with the team, he was initially assigned to the rookie-level Arizona League Padres before being promoted to the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League. Knehr spent the 2019 season with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League and went 3–5 with a 5.43 ERA, 83 strikeouts and a 1.49 WHIP in innings pitched. After the season, the Padres sent him to the Arizona Fall League, where he played for the Peoria Javelinas.[7]
Knehr did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] Knehr was named to the Padres' 2021 Spring Training roster as a non-roster invitee and entered the season as the organization's 24th-ranked prospect by MLB.com.[9] [10] He was assigned to the Double-A San Antonio Missions to begin the year.
On July 9, 2021, Knehr was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[11] He made his MLB debut that day as the starting pitcher against the Colorado Rockies, pitching innings while allowing two runs. In the game, he also recorded his first career strikeout, striking out Rockies outfielder Raimel Tapia.[12] He made 12 appearances (5 starts) for the Padres in his rookie campaign, posting a 1–2 record and 4.97 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched. Knehr appeared in 5 games for San Diego in 2022, recording a 3.95 ERA in innings of work. The majority of his season was spent with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, where he pitched to a 4–4 record and 6.88 ERA with 92 strikeouts in innings pitched across 32 games (15 starts).
Knehr was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2023 season.[13] He struggled in 4 games for San Diego before he was placed on the injured list with right elbow discomfort on June 28, 2023.[14] Knehr was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 18.[15] On November 14, Knehr was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A El Paso.[16]