All-star pitcher
Knebel to represent Brewers
A year ago at this time, Corey Knebel was pitching at Class AAA Colorado Springs trying to rediscover his game and his confidence, the result of a strained left oblique suffered at the end of spring training.
On Sunday morning, roughly a half-hour after he and his wife Danielle learned their first child will be a girl, the right-hander was informed by manager Craig Counsell that he’d be the Milwaukee Brewers’ representative in the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami.
“It felt great. I was honored. Thrilled,” Knebel said. “A lot of good things happening today. It was really fun to find out from Counsell in front of the whole team.”
Knebel, 25, has been nothing short of dominant this season.
He opened as the setup man but replaced Neftali Feliz as closer in midMay. Since then he’s posted 13 saves and overall sports a 1.13 earned-run average with a WHIP of 1.08 in 40 appearances.
Knebel’s overpowering fastball — which has topped out at 100 mph — has helped him to register an impressive 68 strikeouts in just 39 2⁄3 innings. That total ranks second in the majors among relievers behind only Houston’s Chris Devenski, who fanned four in two innings on Sunday to up his total to 70.
It’s been a huge turnaround for the native Texan, a former college closer who was acquired by the Brewers in January, 2015 from the Texas Rangers as part of a three-player package for
Yovani Gallardo.
Knebel posted a 3.22 ERA in 48 appearances that season. He opened 2016 on the disabled list with the oblique strain and spent two months there before returning. It was a brief stay, however, as he was sent to the minors to work out the kinks.
He returned on July 15 and closed out the season with the Brewers, posting a 1-4 record and 4.68 ERA and two saves in 35 appearances.
“This time last year, I got sent down to Triple-A. It was kind of a reality check,” he said. “I came off the DL and worked hard to get off and stay healthy. I didn’t have a year that I wanted to. I went into the off-season and told myself this isn’t going to happen.
“(Tyler Thornburg) got traded and in my mind, I decided I was going to take that closer role. I didn’t want to mess around anymore. I knew this is where I needed to be and everything else worked out.”
The Brewers signed Feliz to a $5.35 million, one-year deal to serve as their closer in late January, leaving Knebel to serve as his setup man in the early going. He was solid in the role, registering 11 holds, and when Feliz pitched his way out of the ninth inning, Knebel was the logical choice to replace him.
He’s since gone on to break major-league strikeout records held by Aroldis Chapman and Bruce Sutter, and has fanned at least one batter in each of his 40 appearances this season.
Knebel admitted his season has come as a pleasant surprise.
“It did,” he said. “Not only for a lot of people but for me, also. This kind of came out of nowhere. I’ve been feeling good. Going in there, not thinking. Pitching. That’s it. Throwing the ball over the plate.
“Funny how it works out.”
Knebel is the ninth Brewers closer to be named an all-star, and the first since Francisco Rodriguez in 2015.
Third baseman Travis Shaw, Milwaukee’s other potential all-star candidate, was not one of the five players chosen as a National League finalvote candidate.
Shaw is hitting .291 with 17 home runs and 59 runs batted in through 72 games.