Five Former Knights Go Yard on First Day of Spring Games
Baseball is back in Arizona and Florida!
The first day of 2021 Spring Training games took place on Sunday, February 28 and five former Charlotte Knights hit home runs.
Let’s take a look…
ADAM ENGEL — It didn’t take long for Engel to pick it where he left off in the 2020 American League Playoffs. Batting third in the first game of the spring season on Sunday, Engel launched a two-run home run — Chicago’s first of the early Cactus League season. It was the only two runs of the game for the White Sox.
AVISAÍL GARCÍA — In the same game on Sunday, former Knights outfielder Avisaíl García went yard for the Milwaukee Brewers — a solo shot in the fourth inning off White Sox reliver Bennett Sousa.
TRAYCE THOMPSON — Now in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, Thompson launched a solo home run in the third inning of Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies. He spent 2020 at Arizona’s alternate site.
Thompson spent parts of three seasons with the Knights (2012, 2015 & 2018) and was an International League All-Star with the team in 2015.
MATT DAVIDSON — In three seasons with the Knights from 2014–2016, Davidson hit 53 home runs with the team (fourth all-time in franchise history). On Sunday, Davidson launched a solo home run in the seventh inning with his new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last year, Davidson was named as the third baseman on the Charlotte Knights All-Decade Team (2010–19).
ROB BRANTLY — Making his first appearance in Yankee pinstripes, Brantly launched a two-run home run in the fifth inning of Sunday’s spring training. Here’s some commentary from Luke Voit…
Brantly, who appeared in 50 games with the Knights over parts of two seasons (2015 & 2017), was acquired by the Yankees on August 26, 2020 in a trade with the San Francisco Giants. He spent last season at New York’s alternate site.
