Brandon Snyder Stats & Scouting Report

AB	200
AVG	.24
OBP	.276
SLG	.455
HR	9

Full name Brandon Roger Snyder
Born 11/23/1986 in Las Vegas, NV
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Westfield
Debut 09/10/2010
Drafted in the 1st round (13th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 (signed for $1,700,000).

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There's a lot to like about Snyder. His father Brian reached the majors as a pitcher, giving him pedigree. He's tough mentally, jumping back and forth between shortstop and catcher, though he moved behind the plate for good late in his senior season. He plays the game hard with a dirt-rat mentality in spite of his premium prospect status. Snyder takes batting practice like a major leaguer, working on driving balls the opposite way and trusting his hands in early rounds before working in his lower body and jolting shots out of the yard once he's loose. And he has performed, putting up good numbers against top summer competition with the Midland Redskins. He showed more polish and feel for the game than Midland teammate Cameron Maybin. Snyder's mature approach, line-drive swing and ability to pull the ball with authority remind scouts of Justin Upton at the plate. He overmatches high school pitching and has rated as the best player in northern Virginia since he arrived on the scene as a freshman. His speed is a tick below-average. His athleticism and arm strength would play at shortstop or third base, and some teams would start him out as an infielder to make sure his offensive development doesn't get stunted. But in the end, Snyder's ability and aptitude to play the premium position of catcher should win out. Limited experience means his receiving skills are ahead of his blocking skills now, but he should develop into at least an adequate defender.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Orioles hoped Snyder would seize their first-base job in 2010, but injuries and poor performance kept that from happening. The son of former big leaguer Brian Snyder, Brandon signed for $1.7 million in 2005 and made his major league debut as a September callup last season. He missed five weeks with a back injury and pressed when he did play, causing him to slump. At his best, Snyder shows a smooth swing with good hands that allow him to take the ball to all fields, which should allow him to be a .300 hitter. He doesn't have prototypical power for first base but should be able to hit 15-20 homers a season. He got himself in trouble last year by getting too aggressive and putting himself in bad counts. Snyder has significantly improved at first base since moving from behind the plate and now is an average defender, with plenty of arm for the position. He's a slightly below-average runner. The Orioles will make Snyder earn his spot in the big leagues, so he will return to Triple-A to open 2011.
The son of former big leaguer Brian Snyder, Brandon signed for $1.7 million as the 13th overall pick in the 2005 draft. He looked like he might wash out after shoulder problems limited his at-bats and forced him to move from behind the plate, but he has proven over the last two seasons that he can be a major league hitter. His .343 average would have led the Eastern League in 2009 had he stayed around long enough to qualify, and he further boosted his stock by batting .354 in the Arizona Fall League. Since Snyder got his swing and approach dialed in during the 2008 season, he has been productive at the plate. He's hitting more with his hands now, staying inside the ball and working it up the middle, as well as driving it to the opposite field more often. His defense at first base has improved significantly, and he shows good hands, footwork and arm strength for the position. Snyder doesn't have prototypical power for a first baseman, projecting to hit 15-20 homers per season, though some scouts think he could add more power down the line. He had trouble getting ahead in the count following his promotion to Triple-A last June. He's a fringe-average runner. Snyder struggled enough at Norfolk to show that he needs more experience against quality pitching. He'll open the season back in Triple-A and prepare himself for a major league opportunity. He looks like he'll profile as a righthanded-hitting Sean Casey.
Snyder has proven that if he's healthy, he'll hit. After a bounce-back season in 2007, the 13th overall pick in the 2005 draft built on it in his first exposure to high Class A ball, finishing second in the Carolina League in batting (.315) and in the top five in several other offensive categories, including slugging (.490) and OPS (.848). Snyder raised his average by about 50 points after former big leaguer and longtime hitting coach Richie Hebner took over as Frederick's manager at the end of May. Hebner took Snyder under his wing and improved his approach at the plate, helping him stay on offspeed pitches, work counts and drive the ball better. He always has shown the ability to hit for average, but 2008 was the first year he hit the ball hard consistently. All of Snyder's value lies in his bat. The idea to put him behind the plate never got off the ground because he couldn't stay healthy, and he's a below-average first baseman because of poor range and footwork--though he's an average runner. Some think he should get a longer look at third base, while others think he'll wind up in the outfield. Snyder has put in the work to become a better hitter, and he'll need to do the same on defense to avoid being a man without a position. He'll move up to Double-A and try to show he can do more than hit.
Snyder was the Orioles' minor league comeback player of the year in 2007, rebounding from shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in 2006. He then went to Hawaii Winter Baseball and batted .378 to win the batting title. He's the son of former big league pitcher Brian Snyder. A healthy Snyder again showed the swing that made him the 13th overall pick in 2005, with his bat head getting a better path to the ball. He also became more aggressive in the strike zone. He stays on breaking balls well and shows opposite-field power. Most of his adjustments were mental, however, after he got very low emotionally during 2006. He's a good athlete with decent speed, but he's not a basestealing threat. Though he was drafted as a catcher, that now appears to be out of the picture, putting even more emphasis on his bat. He made significant improvements at first base last season. He played third base in Hawaii and will get time there in 2008. He has the arm for third but will need to improve his footwork. He's still refining his strike-zone discipline. Now healthy and with his swing back in a groove, Snyder should move quickly. He should be fine at either first or third base, where his value will be tied to his run production. He should open the season in high Class A with the chance for a midseason promotion if he hits.
The 13th overall pick in the 2005 draft, Snyder had a lost first full season. He performed poorly at Delmarva--where he dislocated his right shoulder while swinging--and Aberdeen before having surgery to repair a tear in his left rotator cuff in August. Snyder is regarded as a potential impact bat, with a smooth swing, good approach and the ability to use the whole field. He also showed power potential when fully healthy in 2005. He's athletic and played several positions in high school before working as a catcher as a pro. Becoming a big league catcher is a longshot for Snyder, who threw out just 22 percent of basestealers in 2006 and still has much to grasp behind the plate. He'll likely move to an infield corner, putting more pressure on him to fulfill his potential with the bat. First base is probably his next destination because it's less demanding and Bill Rowell is at third base. Getting Snyder healthy is the Orioles' only concern right now. His offensive production will determine his ultimate value, and they just want to get his bat going. He'll go to Delmarva when he's healthy enough to play.
Snyder is the son of former big league pitcher Brian and a baseball rat who has played with strong competition most of his life, including the standout Midland Redskins summer team. He was the 13th overall pick in June, signed for $1.7 million and finished the summer rated as the top prospect in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. Snyder is a polished offensive player who uses the whole field and already shows power. He has an efficient swing and takes the barrel straight to the ball with a consistent approach. He's not afraid to take pitches and work counts. While he has the tools to be a good defensive catcher, Snyder hasn't played there much. He played all over the field in high school before settling behind the plate late in his senior season. He has a plus arm but will need time learning the nuances of the position. Short-season Aberdeen manager Andy Etchebarren, a longtime big league catcher, jump-started Snyder's progress at the position. His bat should play even if he has to move to third. He'll open the season at low Class A Delmarva.

Minor League Top Prospects

Snyder has put together a strong professional resume since pushing past shoulder problems that cost him development time and forced him to move down the defensive spectrum, to first base. While he's unlikely to move back to catcher or third base, he's a solid defender at first base and is getting better as he gains more experience at the position. The son of ex-big league pitcher Brian Snyder, he lacks the typical power of a first baseman but didn't have any problems driving the ball in the EL, slugging a robust .597 before a promotion to Triple-A. He projects to hit 15-20 home runs annually as he continues to figure out which pitches he can drive. An above-average hitter who shows improved plate discipline, he covers the plate well and uses an all-fields approach. "He's not afraid to go deep in a count, not afraid to take a walk," Bowie manager Brad Komminsk said. "He's got polish and there's no question he can hit, because he can hit quality pitching."
After having shoulder surgery to fix a torn rotator cuff in 2006, Snyder returned to win the Orioles' minor league comeback player of the year award and the Hawaii Winter Baseball batting title (.378) last season. The 13th overall pick in the 2005 draft didn't slow down in the CL, improving his batting average each month to finish second in the hitting race (.315) and setting career highs in most offensive categories. Snyder showed an ability to stay on offspeed pitches and drive balls to the opposite field. He has the potential to hit for average and power, as his strong hands and forearms should convert some of his doubles into homers down the road. He doesn't strike out excessively but he needs to draw more walks. A catcher before his shoulder problems, Snyder now is permanently a first baseman. He struggled there in 2007 while focusing primarily on his hitting, but he improved defensively this year and is more athletic than most first basemen.
After serving as a catcher when he wasn't injured during his first two pro seasons, Snyder moved to first base this year and looked more comfortable. He had his best offensive season to date, rebounding nicely from the dislocated right shoulder and rotator-cuff surgery that limited him to 72 games in 2006. Snyder showed improved plate discipline and continued to display a smooth swing from the right side. He consistently gets his hands in a good hitting position. The question, however, is whether he'll drive in enough runs to be an impact player at the major league level, because the move to first base puts a greater emphasis on his bat. Snyder, who showed soft hands and good athleticism at his new position, also took groundballs at third base. "He adapted well defensively and has become a quality first baseman," Kendall said. "He also made adjustments with the bat, particularly with his pitch selection. Last year, he didn't have a plan when he stepped in the box. While he'll still wave at breaking balls, he has improved in working the count and using the whole field."
In his pro debut, Snyder showed why he was the No. 13 pick in June. He has the tools to become a first-rate offensive catcher, starting with power. He pulled the ball with authority and also showed the ability to drive liners to all fields. The son of former big league pitcher Brian Snyder, he also showed uncanny patience at the plate for a teenager. "For me, he was one of the most fearsome hitters in the league with Eli Iorg and Eric Campbell," Johnson City manager Tommy Kidwell said. "Snyder has an advanced approach at the plate with real power to right field. He stays on the ball well." Snyder converted from shortstop to catcher during the spring and is still learning his new position. His receiving skills are more advanced than his blocking skills, and managers liked his surprisingly quick footwork for a big guy. He has a slightly below-average arm and threw out 29 percent of basestealers. He's a below-average runner. Managers may have been most impressed with Snyder's makeup. "He's a baseball rat behind the plate," Kidwell said. "He's a real take-charge catcher who works well with his pitchers and stays involved in the game."