Landon Knack

Born on July 15, 1997, Landon Dakota Knack has carved a name for himself in the world of professional baseball as a trusted pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. His journey into the big leagues has been a story of determination, unyielding will, and a burning passion for the sport that took root during his early years in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Knack’s exposure to the competitive sports scene began at Science Hill High School, where he put his athletic abilities to the test. Inspired by his participation in high school baseball, he decided to continue with the sport as he moved into his college years. East Tennessee State University became the next stepping stone in his baseball journey, where he wore the royal blue and old gold colors of the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. Here, he honed his skills and became an integral part of the team, eventually catching the eye of MLB scouts.

The 2020 MLB draft marked a significant turn in Knack’s career. The Los Angeles Dodgers, one of baseball’s iconic teams, recruited him in the second round. However, his eager anticipation to step out onto the field in the Dodgers’ classic white, blue, and red was prolonged due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season.

Undeterred, Knack made his professional debut in 2021 with the Great Lakes Loons. Demonstrating exceptional prowess on the field, he was soon promoted to the Tulsa Drillers within the same season. Knack registered an impressive 7-1 record with a 3.18 ERA across 16 appearances and 11 starting positions. His on-field record was further bolstered by 82 strikeouts against a mere eight walks. After such a robust performance, Knack earned a spot on the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.

In 2022, Knack continued to enhance his skill set while competing for Tulsa. He contributed with 17 starts, despite a final 2-10 record and a 5.01 ERA. Undeterred, he returned to Tulsa in 2023, delivering 12 starts marked by a 2-0 record, a stellar 2.20 ERA and 61 strikeouts in just over 57 innings. By mid-2023, Knack was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, an achievement reflecting his increasingly honed skills and tenacity.

In Oklahoma City, Knack illustrated exceptional performance. Over 10 starts, he staked his claim with a 3–1 record, a 2.93 ERA, and 38 strikeouts in 43 innings. Knack’s performances did not go unnoticed; the Dodgers added him to their 40-man roster in November 2023 as a measure of protecting his talent from the Rule 5 draft.

The 2024 season heralded Knack’s official debut with the Dodgers, although he did not pitch during the team’s first two games on South Korean soil as part of the MLB World Tour. Despite the initial disappointment, Knack started impressively for Oklahoma City with six strikeouts in five scoreless innings.

On April 17, 2024, in a nail-biting match against the Washington Nationals, he finally made his mark on the major leagues as the starting pitcher for the Dodgers, allowing a mere two runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. The game was even more memorable for Knack as he celebrated his first big league strikeout against Nick Senzel. His first victory on the major league stage arrived a week later, again against the Nationals.

Moreover, Knack recorded a career-first save by August 13th, stepping in as a relief pitcher in a match against the Milwaukee Brewers, helping his team secure a triumphant 7-2 victory. His early career thus emphatically illustrates a promising player’s evolution into one of the significant forces of the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking his name indelibly on the MLB landscape.