Brandon Knight

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Brandon Knight
position=Starting pitcher
team=New York Mets
number=44
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|10|01
birthplace=city-state|Oxnard|California
debutdate=June 5
debutyear=2001
debutteam=New York Yankees
statyear=September 10, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=0-0
stat3label=Earned run average| stat3value=9.57
stat4label=Strikeouts
stat4value=19
teams=
*New York Yankees (by|2001–by|2002)
*Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (by|2003–by|2004) (NPB)
*Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (by|2005) (NPB)
*New York Mets (by|2008–present)

Brandon Michael Knight (born October 1, 1975 in Oxnard, Californiacite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6737|title=player profile|publisher=Yahoo!Sports|accessdate=2008-07-26] ) is an American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, Knight plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.

Knight, who was selected by the Texas Rangers in the by|1995 amateur draftcite web|url=http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Brandon%20Knight&pos=P&sid=t588&t=p_pbp&pid=150284|title=player profile|publisher=milb.com|accessdate=2008-07-26] , appeared in 11 major league games for the New York Yankees in mlby|2001 and mlby|2002.

From by|2003-by|2005, Knight played for Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan. He spent two years in Fukuoka, Japan playing for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks and one year in Sapporo, Japan playing for the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Upon returning to the United States, Knight signed and played in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for the by|2006 season.

In by|2007, Knight signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League. Brett Jodie, the former Yankee pitcher, now the Patriots pitching coach noticed that Knight's release point was too high. After Knight modified his release point, his command and velocity improved. The Mets decided to purchase his contract and signed him to their Triple-A team (New Orleans Zephyrs) in New Orleans, Louisiana.cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/07202008/sports/mets/mets_knight_olympic_bound_120696.htm|title=Mets' Knight Olympic-bound|last=Bontemps|first=Tim|date=2008-07-20|publisher=New York Post|accessdate=2008-07-27]

While pitching for the New Orleans Zephyrs, Knight was selected to play for the U.S. Olympic team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Knight pitched in two baseball games at the Olympics, earning one win. [ [http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/BB/C85D/BBM400000.shtml#BBM400910 Baseball Men Best Pitchers] ] He earned a bronze medal as part of the U.S. team.

Knight made his first career major league start in Shea Stadium for the New York Mets on July 26, mlby|2008, against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed four runs in the first inning, but settled down, and held the Cardinals scoreless through the next four innings. Though he left the game with the Mets leading 5-4, the bullpen was unable to hold the lead and Knight was denied his first major league win. He was designated for assignment the following day,cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/27/sports/BBN-Mets-Moves.php US Olympian Knight designated for assignment|title= US Olympian Knight designated for assignment|date=2008-07-27|publisher=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2008-07-27] but was recalled to the Mets when rosters expanded in September.

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