Little Rock baseball head coach Chris Curry has announced the addition of Austin Knight as the team's graduate manager for the 2016 season.

Knight comes to Little Rock after a successful four-year playing career as catcher at Ole Miss. Knight and the Rebels made it to the NCAA Tournament all four years from 2012 to 2015. Knight had a career batting average of .257 with 59 hits, eight doubles, two home runs and 27 RBIs in 120 games. Behind the plate, Knight was very successful with a career fielding percentage of .992.

"I've had the pleasure of knowing Austin and his family for a few years now. He comes from a well-respected baseball family, who are wonderful people, and his dad is a great coach in Mississippi.  Along with his high character, Austin was a great player at Ole Miss under Coach Mike Bianco as a two-year starter, and he also had the opportunity to play in Omaha.  He will be a great addition to our staff and will help our program tremendously."

Before playing at Ole Miss, Knight lettered all four years under his father and head coach Larry Knight at Sumrall High School. Knight was a 2011 Louisville Slugger All-America selection and an All-State selection in 2010 and 2011. Knight helped Sumrall to four state championships while hitting .388 with 11 home runs, 29 doubles and 92 RBIs for his career. In 2011, Knight was drafted in the 43rd round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.

"I am very excited for Austin's opportunity to be on Coach Curry's staff," Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. "He was a terrific player in our program, and I have no doubt he will be a great addition to Little Rock."

Knight is the son of Larry and Pam Knight. He has two younger siblings, Alex and Andrew. Baseball runs in the Knight family as his father, Larry, played professionally with the Braves organization, and his uncle, Steve Knight, played with the Mariners organization.