Snyder is likely to get another shot at Norfolk
O's first base prospect Brandon Snyder is smart enough to know that he is likely to begin the 2010 season in the Norfolk Tides' lineup.
He'll head to spring training with the Orioles in a few weeks "out to win a job" at the Major League level, but he surely realizes that while his time may come this year, it probably will not be on opening day.
One of the mysteries of the 2009 O's minor league season was Snyder's struggles at Triple-A.
The O's first-round pick from 2005 hit .343-10-45 in 58 games with Bowie; but with the Tides in 73 games, he batted just .248-2-43 and fanned 64 times in 262 at bats.
In an October interview, Snyder told me he got a little psyched out by Norfolk's big, pitcher-friendly home park. Then he said:
"Hitting to center and right center is my gap power and Norfolk's park killed me. I won't say I didn't struggle here and there but I went from Bowie to Norfolk and kept hitting line drives, kept hitting balls well that I thought would carry for at least doubles. Once the hits stopped, I tried to change.
"That was something I shouldn't have done. I should have kept the same approach, whether I hit a buck fifty or .250 or .300. I should not have changed what I was doing. It took me a few weeks before I came here to get that back. I was completely screwed up, thinking 'I need to slap the ball around the field' since I couldn't hit it out of there (Norfolk).
"It was a big learning lesson. I needed to stay with my game plan and hopefully it leads me to Baltimore someday."
Now the 23-year-old Snyder, ranked as the O's 6th best prospect by both Baseball America and ESPN's Keith Law, is ready to battle opposing pitchers and Norfolk's Harbor Park, again.
"If I go back to Norfolk, I'm interested to challenge myself there. That's why I put on some more weight so I had something behind the baseball. I can't let it bother me.
"That's what I learned last year. In the fall league, I kind of worked as much mentally as I did physically.
"You can't let things you can't control, like the size of the field, impact you. My dad told me I lined out 27 percent of the time last year, I think that's pretty good. But I was looking at it as I didn't hit grass (and get hits). He said get over the stats and just go out and play."
Snyder has heard the talk that he and Josh Bell will be the future corner infielders in Baltimore. He knows that is not guaranteed, but it's still flattering.
"Very rare in this business do they give you much credit. To hear that is awesome, but with that comes a lot of pressure. This is a big organization with a lot of people that want to win.
"Maybe in some past years, the Orioles didn't reach their potential, but times are changing. If you're not ready to move with the organization, you could be left behind. I've talked to Josh, we're very, very excited."
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
I am sitting in my office looking at a picture of Brandon with friends and family on his signing day. One person in that picture is a close friend of mine who was one of two hitting instructors for Brandon. His father, Brian (former major leaguer) is the other one who taught him about hitting. My friend has given me a positive snapshot of Brandon, and I have met Brandon several times. Brandon is a gap to gap hitten. Doubles are his strength. As his strength grows, time will tell if some of those doubles become home runs. Brandon has those baseball genes that are and will serve him well with the judgement and intangible issues of the game. You are looking at a potential of .300/many doubles/15-20 home runs/100RBI. The Orioles have a history of hitters who have produced consistently well for many year - Brooks, Boog, Frank, Eddie, Cal, and now Markakis. Brandon holds promise for such consistency. You could say that players with such consistency are a hallmark of the Orioles brand. The elements of the Norfolk park posed a challenge for the young and upcoming Brandon. I look for him to move beyond that challenge in 2010 and show us that he is ready for the majors. Look for this former catcher to grow to become an accomplished defender at first base.
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Good post, David. He's just a dedicated player who has turned into a decent defensive first sacker through hard work. I think his bat will play in the Majors, maybe one day producing the numbers you predicted. I fully expect him to have a big year at Triple-A in 2010......Steve
I agree with David's comments above and am also a huge Brandon Snyder fan. But I can't help thinking, aren't the numbers David posited the same type Michael Aubrey is projected to put up (and in fact did over a very limited number of at bats in '09)? Aubrey is also a plus defender. As much as I'm looking forward to Brandon Snyder playing for the Orioles for many years to come, I can't figure out why Aubrey is being passed over. Was the Garrett Atkins signing just done to appease an impatient fan base? I hope not.
Steve-
I forgot to ask, do you think the O's will have any interest in Leslie Anderson?
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I don't think so.....Steve
I am very excited for both Brandon and Josh to come up. Even if the O's decide down the road to sign the big bopper type 1B they could always have Brandon be the DH/1B. His bat translates very well in the majors and he will be an asset to any team.
Last year the O's brought up Matuzs, Tillman, Bergenson, Hernandez, Berkins, Weiters, and Reimold. Snyder and Bell should definately be up by the AS game or before. What's it going to hurt?
I like Snyder and I think he really could be good for us, but I definitely don't like hearing him think "since I couldn't hit it out at Norfolk". The fact of the matter is that we're grooming this guy to be the first baseman of the future. If you are ever going to stick at first base in the MLB, and more specifically the AL East, then you are going to have to be a guy who is hitting 25+ HR's in the Bigs, and that's just all there is to it. Big parks, smaller gaps, faster outfielders; all of these things are going to have to be figured out before you make it on the grand stage... because you have to deal with ALL of it once you're there.
Hoping for a good bounceback at Norfolk in 2010. Sounds like he's getting his head in the right place and figuring it out... we need to see some power numbers.
I'm sure AM will be listening to offers for Atkins at the trade deadline. Snyder's time could be sooner than later.
Steve,
With Brandon Snyder likely to be the O's prospect at 1st, and Josh Bell manning 3rd, where does Brandon Waring fit into this equation?
I was looking at his defensive splits at Baseball-Reference and he tended to play more games at 1st than he did at 3rd.
Waring is older than Snyder, and Snyder had better offensive success at Bowie than Waring, so the question I have is whether it is a foregone conclusion that we will see Snyder before we see Waring in the bigs?
Great blog.
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I think it is, Max. Snyder is considered the better prospect at this point, but Waring is in the picture after his huge year at Frederick. He could make even more strides if he does well this season at Bowie......Steve
Steve, I agree that Snyder should have a good year at Norfolk, I'm not sure why the Orioles want to rush him to the bigs. He's still just 23 and as you note in your article, he strikes out too much, especially for someone who isn't a power hitter.
While he's promising and has a future with the O's, I must agree with Rev that Aubrey deserves a chance. He was terrific when he played last year for the O's. Granted, some of his success was against pitchers called up in September, but that still should be enough for him to be given a shot. He's a career .294 hitter in the minors and is only 28, so he's coming into his prime.
Sure he hasn't shown much power, but then neither has Snyder. And although Brandon's a first rounder, it's not like Aubrey's playing would be blocking the next Albert Pujols or Mark Teixeira. It may be moot, however; Atkins and Wigginton can play first, so it might be a numbers game for Aubrey, though Wigginton could also be dealt.
That was a very interesting article yesterday on Vito Frabizio, the latest in a string of pieces you've written about some of the Orioles' lesser known prospects. Of all the unusual background stories, his might be the most improbable of them all. Good reporting, Steve. (You know, with all the real pitching talent at all levels in the O's farm system, if even a quarter of those arms get to the big leagues and amount to something, Baltimore could be a contender for years to come.)
By the way, I tried to email you a heads-up last night about reports that Erik Bedard has finally started throwing. Unfortunately, I got a bounce-back saying your account is restricted.
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Don't know what happened on the e-mail.
Both Aubrey and Snyder are first-round picks. While I am not counting Aubrey out, my opinion and perhaps the O's share it, is that Snyder, five years his junior, projects as the better player. They are not rushing him, by the way, he's already played a half season at AAA and is going back likely for more time there.......Steve
Rev, Aubrey is being passed over because he isn't good. He has had very mediocre numbers in the minors over the last few seasons all while being older than prospects in his respective league. He hits for decent averages but doesn't get on base enough and does not hit for power. We have a little bit of a Luis Hernandez situation going on here. People see what he did in a handful of at bats in September when he was playing over his head and think that is what he really is.
Rev wrote:
...I can't help thinking, aren't the numbers David posited the same type Michael Aubrey is projected to put up (and in fact did over a very limited number of at bats in '09)?
In a word, no. Snyder is a much better prospect than Aubrey.
Michael Aubrey is five years older than Snyder, and while he was a promising young hitter five or six years ago, he has had injury problems and made virtually no progress for five years.
It would be a mistake to make too much of 90 ABs in September.
PhilF and Dan,
Points well taken on Michael Aubrey. My only question was that if Snyder is being projected as a doubles hitter (as opposed to the long ball) then why not give Aubrey a shot, as he has already shown that he can hit the ball in the gaps as well. And he's a plus defender. The age difference between the two doesn't sway me...it's a lot like the word potential...so what if one guy is 23 (but never pans out) while the other guy is a late bloomer at 29? And it all becomes moot if Atkins regains his form and hits 30+ homers a year. I may be way off base on my assessment of Aubrey but I think Ken Francis (who has made many cogent points on these blogs) sees where I'm coming from.
Hey Steve,
We were talking yesterday about, how you were at many of the Towson basketball games. I would love to meet you. Where are you usually at the games, im guessing the press desk. When is the next home game you are going to? Do you follow Towson sports in general, or do you just follow the basketball team?
SAM
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I broadcast football, basketball and lacrosse games when I was in school and remain a fan of all Towson sports, but most closely follow football and men and women's basketball. In recent years I have broadcast some women's hoop games and am a real fan of coach Mathews.
I was at the win over Maryland this year and it was one of the greatest nights ever to be a Tiger fan at the Towson Center. I have spoken to students a few times over the years during classes and look forward to more of that in the future.
I may be there for the game with JMU on the 6th, not sure yet. I would be sitting on press row, usually next to the radio guys.....Steve