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Knoth opened the season on Carolina's IL while completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent early in 2025. After a three-start rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Knoth received the green light to move up to a full-season affiliate. He made his debut for Wisconsin on Friday, covering two innings and striking out two batters while allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks.
Knoth spent his entire first season as a pro with Single-A Carolina, finishing with a 4.48 ERA and 1.40 WHIP alongside a 96:40 K:BB over 84.1 innings. However, he spent the final month of the year on the injured list due to an elbow injury that will ultimately cost him another whole season. The 19-year-old right-hander will now spend the next several months recovering from the procedure before turning his focus to returning sometime in 2026.
It was an understandably uneven first full season for Knoth, who turned 19 just a couple weeks before landing on the shelf. The 6-foot-1 righty logged a 4.48 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 96:40 K:BB in 84.1 innings across 21 starts, although his 3.58 xFIP suggests he was a bit unlucky. He had three starts with seven strikeouts and one start where he struck out nine in 4.2 innings, so the swing-and-miss upside is there. However, he also had a five-walk start and a four-walk start. Knoth still has a high ceiling, but in addition to needing to improve his command and changeup, there's now this undisclosed injury to monitor heading into the offseason.
One of the youngest pitchers in the class, the 17-year-old Knoth (he turns 18 in August) has shot up boards this spring, as his stuff has been up across the board. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound righty has a repeatable delivery and a mid-90s fastball that already touches 98 mph. His slider has surpassed 3,000 RPM and projects to be a plus or double-plus offering at peak. Knoth's spin proficiency is also evident in his low-80s curveball, which could also be a plus pitch in time. His changeup is the weakest part of his repertoire, which is true of many pitchers his age. He lacks prototypical size, but Knoth checks all the other boxes scouts look for in burgeoning young starters.