Jon Knott Promoted to San Diego

Jon Knott has been promoted from the Portland Beaver to the San Diego Padres. The move comes as Ryan Klesko was placed on the disabled list. Freddy Guzman was moved from Mobile to Portland.

Signed as a non-drafted free agent in September of 2001, Jon Knott quickly climbed through the San Diego Padres organization. Knott reached the major leagues today after being called up from Triple-A Portland when Ryan Klesko was placed on the disabled list.

Knott becomes the 42nd player in Fort Wayne Wizards history to reach the major league level and third in the last week following Cliff Bartosh (Cleveland Indians) and Justin Germano (Padres). Knott began the 2002 season with the Wizards, hitting .333 with three home runs and 18 runs batted in during 37 games. He had a slugging percentage of .548 and an on-base percentage of .411.

He was promoted to the Lake Elsinore Storm midway through his first season of professional baseball and hit .341 to lead the California League with eight home runs and 73 RBI. He shared the Padres Minor League Player of the Year with former Wizard Josh Barfield during the 2002 season.

Knott spent the 2003 season with Double-A Mobile, hitting .252 with 27 homers, 32 doubles and 82 RBI in 127 games. He finished the season with Portland and opened this year with the Padres Triple-A team.

Before being called up to San Diego, Knott was hitting .308 with 11 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 47 RBI in 43 games. He was leading the Pacific Coast League with his 47 runs batted in and was tied for third in homers and fourth in extra base hits with 26.

Freddy Guzman moves to Portland. He was third in the Southern League in stolen bases.