Andrew Knapp enters spring training with real shot to make Phillies

CLEARWATER, Fla. - If Andrew Knapp needed any insight last spring about his chances of breaking camp with the Phillies, he simply needed to look at his locker location.

The catcher was issued one of the extra stalls in the middle of the clubhouse that the team assembled to help with the overflow of players. It is the worst spot in the room, as there is little privacy to be had in the center of a full clubhouse.

It was clear that Knapp was invited to camp last season as a prospect, not as a candidate for opening day. This year is different. He enters spring training as a recent addition to the 40-man roster and the early favorite to begin the season as Cameron Rupp's backup.

"Last year, I was just kind of happy to be here," Knapp said. "It was my first big-league camp, so I was trying to pick everyone's brain. So, yeah, it's a different feeling."

The Phillies chose to address their backup-catcher situation this winter by inviting a pair of veteran catchers — Ryan Hanigan and Bryan Holaday — to spring training on minor-league deals. The moves opened the door for Knapp, who spent last season at triple A. General manager Matt Klentak said in December that the team would be open to starting the season with Knapp. The job now seems to be his for the taking.

"I'm not really trying to think about it much, but it's definitely in the back of my mind," Knapp said. "I think I've just got to go out and do what I do and not put too much pressure on myself to go be perfect. Just get ready for the season. I think they just want to see me go out and handle this pitching staff and go out and catch every day here in spring, kind of get ready instead of putting all this pressure on myself."

Knapp, 25, batted .266 with a .330 on-base percentage in 403 at-bats last season with triple-A Lehigh Valley. More important might be the 104 games he caught. Knapp thought his game-calling — the art of selecting pitches — improved as the season progressed.

"From what I've been told, he's shown a lot of improvement," manager Pete Mackanin said about Knapp's game-calling. "We're going to look for that improvement in spring training. When we put together a team, we're looking for the 25 best men to go to Philly. There's a good chance that he might be one of them. I think he's capable of doing even more offensively in triple A, and he might be ready for the major leagues."

The IronPigs had three pitchers last year who ended the season with their first taste of the majors. Knapp must have been doing something right, he said. The catcher is a familiar face to a young pitching staff.

"I've pretty much caught everyone in this room besides the new guys," Knapp said, "whether it was last spring or last year in triple A. I think that's what they want. I know it's good to have a veteran backup guy, but the fact that I've caught all of these guys and know the way that they work and stuff, I think that helps me."

With Knapp, the Phillies would receive not just a backup catcher but also a switch-hitter off the bench and a player who could spell Tommy Joseph at first base. Knapp will spend some time this spring at first base, a position he also played in college at Cal-Berkeley. The Phillies used him briefly there last spring, but Knapp had to borrow Darin Ruf's glove. Knapp said he brought his own this year.

Knapp was in the Dominican Republic in December when Joe Jordan, the team's director of player development, was trying to call him. Jordan had good news. Knapp was being added to the 40-man roster. But Knapp had no cell service, and Jordan's call could not get through.

Knapp eventually read the news on Twitter. One of the first benefits was discovered Monday, when the pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. Knapp's locker was no longer in the center of the clubhouse. He has a prime spot against the clubhouse wall as he makes his case for the majors.

"I'm pretty confident in my ability to be that guy," Knapp said.