Jake Knapp (baseball)

Jake Knapp
Chicago Cubs
Pitcher
Born: (2000-08-30) August 30, 2000
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards

Jacob Michael Knapp (born August 30, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. He played college baseball for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, Walters State Senators, and North Carolina Tar Heels.

Amateur career

Knapp was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he attended Walter Hines Page Senior High School and played baseball.[1] During his senior year at Page, Knapp registered a 5–0 record with a 1.31 ERA and 87 strikeouts, being named the Metro Conference Pitcher of the Year as a result.[2]

Despite his performance in high school, Knapp received no official offers to play college baseball, and instead enrolled at the University of North Carolina Wilmington as a preferred walk-on for their baseball team.[3] During his sole year at UNC Wilmington, Knapp did not appear in any games.[2]

Following his freshman year, Knapp was cut from UNC Wilmington's baseball team.[4] Soon after, Knapp was recruited by Walters State Community College, with head coach David Shelton convincing Knapp to enroll based on Walters State's track record of elevating their baseball players into Division I athletes.[4] After his first few appearances with Walters State, Knapp was contacted by the North Carolina Tar Heels pitching coach Bryant Gaines, who informed Knapp that North Carolina would be monitoring him throughout the season.[2] In his first year at Walters State, Knapp finished the season with a 6.11 ERA, culminating in Gaines refusing to offer Knapp a spot on North Carolina's roster.[2] Following the season, Knapp considered abandoning his baseball career and transferring to the University of Georgia, only being talked out of it after multiple hours-long conversations with Shelton.[2] Knapp greatly improved during his second year at Walters State, setting a school record in wins with a 14–1 record along with 111 strikeouts and a 2.12 ERA.[5]

On March 14, 2022, Knapp was again contacted by Gaines, this time with Knapp accepting an offer to play baseball for North Carolina.[2] In his debut with North Carolina, Knapp went 5+2⁄3 innings with two hits and two walks allowed, along with four strikeouts, in a win against Longwood.[4] Knapp finished his first season at North Carolina with a 5.04 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 64+1⁄3 innings.[6] In January 2024, Knapp tore his UCL during practice, causing him to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2024 season as a result.[2] Instead, Knapp took on a mentor capacity to freshmen and incoming transfers for North Carolina.[2]

Knapp returned for North Carolina in 2025, and in his first game back, he allowed one run off of two hits along with 3 strikeouts in a win against Texas Tech.[7] On March 28, Knapp set a career high with ten strikeouts in 7.0 innings, along with five hits and no runs allowed, in a win against Miami (FL).[8] On May 15, Knapp pitched a complete game in a win against Florida State, his longest collegiate outing, along with allowing three runs off of four hits and seven strikeouts.[9] During the season, Knapp was named as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award.[10] Following his final collegiate game, a win against Arizona in the Chapel Hill Regional, Knapp tied the program record with his fourteenth win, finishing the season 14–0 with 88 strikeouts and a 2.02 ERA in 102+1⁄3 innings.[11] By the conclusion of the year, Knapp received the ACC Pitcher of the Year Award[12] and the National Pitcher of the Year Award.[13] Knapp was also tabbed as a consensus All-American.[14]

Professional career

Knapp was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the eighth round with the 241st overall pick in the 2025 Major League Baseball draft.[15] He signed with the Cubs for $175,000 and was subsequently assigned to the ACL Cubs of the Arizona Complex League.[16] On April 2, 2026, Knapp was promoted to the Double-A Knoxville Smokies.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Vernon, Jeremy (June 4, 2025). "Former Page High standout, current UNC ace Jake Knapp up for Pitcher of the Year award". WFMY. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nugent, Grace (May 2, 2025). "Jake Knapp Making the Most of His Last Shot". 247 Sports. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  3. ↑ Campbell, Logan (May 29, 2025). "Jake Knapp's road from overlooked prospect to ACC star". WFMY. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Moon, Emma (February 11, 2025). "Pitcher Jake Knapp returns to the mound in 2025 after injury". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  5. ↑ Meyer, Matt (May 21, 2022). "Consistency in all phases of the game carries Walters State back to JUCO". The Daily Sentinel. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  6. ↑ Killian, Allexus (July 15, 2025). "Walters State baseball pitchers Jake Knapp, Aiden Robertson picked in 2025 MLB Draft". Knox News. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  7. ↑ Shoemaker, Cade (February 15, 2025). "No. 6 UNC baseball displays pitching depth in doubleheader win over Texas Tech". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  8. ↑ Lee, Marvin (March 28, 2025). "No. 21 UNC baseball blanks Miami, 2-0, to take first game of series". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  9. ↑ Bynum, R. L. (May 15, 2025). "Van De Brake, Knapp lead Heels to huge win at No. 2 FSU". Tar Heel Tribune. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  10. ↑ Jensen, Aidan (May 17, 2025). "UNC's starting catcher, ace pitcher nominated for college baseball top individual honor". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  11. ↑ Jensen, Aidan (June 7, 2025). "UNC baseball's ace pitcher ties a program record in Game 1 of Chapel Hill Super Regional". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  12. ↑ Beighle, Matthew (May 19, 2025). "UNC baseball pitcher wins 2025 ACC Pitcher of the Year". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  13. ↑ Beighle, Matthew (June 13, 2025). "UNC starting pitcher wins college baseball National Pitcher of the Year". USA Today. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  14. ↑ Bynum, R. L. (June 26, 2025). "Knapp makes D1 Baseball All-America team, his fourth first-team national honor". Tar Heel Tribune. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  15. ↑ Salomon, Scott (July 15, 2025). "Chicago Cubs Stock Up on Tar Heels". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  16. ↑ Delahanty, Nick (July 21, 2025). "Jake Knapp agrees to terms on his first professional contract with the Chicago Cubs". Keeping It Heel. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  17. ↑ Timmers, Josh (April 12, 2026). "Cubs Minor League Wrap: Owen Ayers leads South Bend past Peoria". Bleed Cubbie Blue. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
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