The Rockford RiverHawks have added another experienced, strike-throwing arm to the starting rotation.
The team announced on Tuesday that it has acquired right-hander Justin Knoff in exchange from the Sussex Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League in exchange for cash.
Knoff spent most of last season with the Sussex Skyhawks. Knoff was 5-5 with a 3.24 earned-run average, the fourth lowest in the league, in 14 starts. When the Skyhawks fell out of the Can-Am race late in the season, they dealt him to Lincoln of the American Association. He was 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA in five appearances. Knoff combined to strike out 60 and walk 39 in 109 composite innings. Sussex reacquired him in another trade following the season.
Cincinnati drafted Knoff out of Siena in the 30th round in 2002 and he spent three years in their organization. St. Louis acquired him in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the 2004 winter meetings and he spent most of the 2005 season with two of the Cardinals’ affiliates.
The eight-year veteran has a career record of 40-24 and a 3.84 ERA. He’s twice been in his league’s top five in wins and twice among the top five in ERA. Knoff has never walked 40 in a season. The 28-year-old has LS-5 status in the Northern League.