With Pirates catcher Roberto Perez day to day, backup Andrew Knapp gets 'ready to go'

Mitch Keller was on the mound when a Nelson Cruz foul tip hit Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Roberto Perez flush in the left leg, so the right-hander got a good view and was “definitely concerned.”

“I saw it foul tip right down,” Keller said of Perez, who was set up on one knee. “I didn’t know how bad it was or where it got him. I knew he was in a lot of pain, but he stuck it out the rest of that inning.”

Here's the foul ball that hit Pérez. He was able to finish the second inning, but was pulled for Andrew Knapp. pic.twitter.com/JBguarC1MH

— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) April 15, 2022

The foul tip caused a left quad contusion that forced the Pirates to remove Perez in the bottom of the second inning of the Pirates’ 7-2 loss to the Washington Nationals on Friday night at PNC Park. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Perez was “pretty sore” but was able to get seven-plus innings of treatment from the medical staff during the game.

Shelton said Perez, who played only 76 games the past two seasons because of injuries, is “day to day.”

“When your No. 1 catcher gets hit, you’re always concerned about that,” Shelton said. “I live in the world where we’ll come in (Saturday) and see if we’re in bad shape, then I’ll probably be a little bit more concerned.”

Shelton had no choice but to turn to 30-year-old backup catcher Andrew Knapp, who signed with the Pirates just before the season opener in St. Louis after Taylor Davis, Michael Perez and Jamie Ritchie didn’t make the cut in spring training. Shelton said infielder/outfielder Josh VanMeter could have been used in an emergency, but Knapp ended up catching five pitchers over the final seven innings of the game without a hitch.

“That’s just part of the job,” Knapp said. “When there’s only two catchers on the roster, you’re constantly making sure that you’re loose, just in case something like that happens. That’s why I like to get in on the gameplan meetings about the hitters. If something happens, I’m ready to go and we don’t really skip a beat.”

After batting .214 in five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Knapp was cut by the Cincinnati Reds this spring. The 6-foot-1, 189-pounder has been taking a crash course in learning the Pirates pitching staff by catching bullpen and side sessions and caught Zach Thompson in the 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in his first start.

“It’s definitely been a new experience,” Knapp said. “I was with the same team my whole career. I was drafted by Philly in 2013, so I basically knew every single person’s name, down to the janitor. Now, two teams in the past couple weeks, that part has been a learning experience. Everyone here has been great. They’ve welcomed me with open arms. When everyone is on the same plan and same page, it makes it easier.”

Shelton said Knapp “did a nice job” in a pinch, following the gameplan and having conversations with game planning and strategy coach Radley Haddad between innings. Knapp even had a highlight, throwing out Lane Thomas at third base to end the fifth inning. Keller echoed the support for Knapp after throwing to him for the first time in a game.

“It was definitely different coming in mid-game, but the transition was pretty seamless there,” Keller said. “He’s a great catcher. … He caught my bullpen last week, so it definitely helped him knowing what pitches I have and how they work and whatever. It was really good.”

Shelton has raved about how Perez, a two-time AL Gold Glove winner with Cleveland, has handled the pitching staff throughout spring training and the first week of the season. Perez also was hitting .294 (5 for 17) with a double and had drawn three walks in six games. Knapp went 0 for 2 with a walk Friday against Washington but recorded his first hit as a Pirate on Saturday with an RBI double.

“Hopefully, it’s not too bad and that it’s just one of those dings,” Knapp said of Perez. “Hopefully, it’s just one day. But if not, I’ll be ready to go.”