Marlins prospect Knapp gets brotherly advice

Phillies backstop Andrew worked out with Aaron during offseason

May 1st, 2018

MIAMI -- Before the Minor League season opened, Marlins outfield prospect Aaron Knapp received some advice from his older brother, Andrew, a catcher with the Phillies.
"Out of Spring Training, I told him, 'The main goal isn't to play in the Florida State League or the [South Atlantic] League, or wherever it is. It's to play in the big leagues,'" said on Tuesday afternoon at Marlins Park.
Earlier on Tuesday, Aaron received a promotion, jumping from Class A Greensboro to Class A Advanced Jupiter. The 23-year-old outfielder hit .303 at Greensboro, with a .453 on-base percentage. He moves from the South Atlantic League to the Florida State League.
The hope someday is the two brothers will both be in the Majors. Andrew, 26, has been with the Phillies since 2017, and Aaron was the Marlins' eighth-round Draft pick in 2016.
Both brothers played collegiately at the University of California-Berkeley. The Phillies selected Andrew in the second round in 2013. This offseason, they were roommates in San Francisco and worked out together.
"We were roommates again for the first time since before college," Andrew said. "We talk quite a bit. I played in both of those leagues, so I have a little bit of experience I can give him. We lived together this offseason and worked out every day and hit together. It's awesome for him. I'm happy for him. He's playing well.
"All of this right now that he is going through, the experiences, and everything he's learning is preparing him to play here. I just wanted him to keep that in mind, because you can get caught up in the, 'Oh, they're sending me back to Greensboro, or whatever it is.' But the ultimate goal is to play here and then to stay here. That's what I told him before Spring Training."
Worth noting
(back tightness) knocked a pinch-hit homer in Tuesday's 2-1, 10-inning win, and he is expected to start at first base on Wednesday in the series finale with the Phillies. He last started on Friday and also pinch-hit on Monday.
"He's ready," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said before the game. "It was one of those things yesterday, he was still a little stiff. [Tuesday], he said he was ready to go. I kind of go with some of the old school stuff. When you say you're ready to go, give them an extra day to make sure you're ready. I told him, 'You'll be back in there tomorrow.'"

• Shortstop JT Riddle (right shoulder tendinitis) was scheduled to play nine innings on Tuesday for Triple-A New Orleans on his rehab assignment. The club will decide what is next. Because he missed the second half of 2017, Riddle is expected to stay with New Orleans for at least a little while before being called back to the Marlins.
, the organization's No. 14 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been placed on the Minor League disabled list with a hamstring injury. Lee was injured a few days ago while playing for Triple-A New Orleans. The left-handed-hitting outfielder was on the Marlins' Opening Day roster.
• The Twins returned right-hander to the Marlins. Kinley, a Rule 5 Draft claim in December, will report to Triple-A New Orleans. The 27-year-old pitched 3 1/3 innings for Minnesota, allowing nine runs and striking out four batters.