Knowles goes pro

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Just weeks after his collegiate career concluded, Perez Knowles officially makes the transition to the professional ranks.

Knowles signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds at the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona yesterday.

Knowles became the second Bahamian pitcher to sign this month after the Detroit Tigers selected Chavez Fernander in the 35th round with the 1035th overall pick.

“God is good! I’m finally a professional baseball player” Knowles posted as the caption on an Instagram post – a picture of the right picture signing his contract as Reds personnel looked on.

In his final collegiate game, Knowles and his No 8 Columbus State Cougars were eliminated with a 3-2 loss to the No 11 Augustana Vikings in the NCAA Division II World Series Championship.

The Grand Bahama native pitched five and 2/3 innings in the start and surrendered just two hits with three strikeouts.

The Cougars end the year with a record of 48-15 as the national runner-up for the third time, joining the 1986 and 2007 teams.

Knowles finished his season 8-4 and was an All-Peach Belt Conference Second Team selection this season.

Some of his season highs this season included a complete game with nine innings pitched in the Regional tournament, 13 strikeouts against USC Aiken and a one-hitter against Albany State. He started 18 games this season with a 3.44 ERA with 128 strikeouts.

Prior to his transfer to Columbus State, Knowles spent his previous collegiate years with the University of Troy Trojans.

Knowles appeared in 17 games out of the bullpen in two seasons. As a freshman, he appeared in 14 innings with 11 strikeouts and an ERA just over seven.

Once he transferred to Columbus State, Knowles appeared in 19 games for the Cougars and posted a 1.77 ERA and finished with a 3-3 record and a team-best three saves. He tallied 33 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.