Brad Snyder Stats & Scouting Report

AB	66
AVG	.167
OBP	.225
SLG	.288
HR	2

Full name Bradley Michael Snyder
Born 05/25/1982 in Sandusky, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Ball State
Debut 09/07/2010
Drafted in the 1st round (18th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2003 (signed for $1,525,000).

View Draft Report

Snyder nearly had to have his right big toe amputated after a serious wreck in the summer of 2001, which would have likely ended his baseball career. He fully recovered and hit .389-13-57 as a sophomore, raising expectations heading into this spring. He posted nearly identical numbers this year and shows more power from his lean, athletic 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame. He made an adjustment to erase a loop from his stroke, and takes a more direct, fluid path to the ball. While he is a patient hitter, he occasionally lacks pitch recognition. He hits with good balance and bat speed, and shows the ability to turn on the ball for power. Snyder earned a tremendous reputation for his work habits while coming back from his injuries. An average runner with good instincts and an average arm, he profiles as a prototypical right fielder in the Paul O'Neill mold. He has attracted mid-first-round attention. Snyder's younger brother Ben, a lefthander at Bellevue (Ohio) HS, might be drafted in the top 20 rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Snyder's brother Ben, a lefthander who followed him at Ball State, ranks as the Giants' No. 21 prospect. Brad has better tools, is in a deeper organization and is considered a better prospect, but his younger brother out-performed him in 2007. In 2006, the Indians experimented with Snyder, batting him in the leadoff spot at Akron to push him to work deeper counts and improve his two-strike approach. Snyder still ranked 10th in the minors in strikeouts that season, and he hasn't improved much since moving back down the lineup. He was on pace to top his career-high 158 strikeouts before a broken thumb put him out of action at the end of July. Still, the Indians believe in Snyder's wide tool set. He runs extremely well for his size, has plus bat speed, above-average power and outstanding arm strength that profile him as an everyday right-field candidate. His lack of ability to control the strike zone is particularly acute against lefthanders--he struck out in 32 of 79 at-bats against them in 2007, batting just .203. His propensity for striking out likely means Snyder will never hit for much of an average, and it seems as though the Tribe is willing to live with the whiffs. The more contact he makes, though, the more his power comes into play. He did return late in the year in the Arizona Fall League, replacing Trevor Crowe after his injury. The Indians chose to keep Snyder on the 40-man roster this winter over outfielder Brian Barton, and are hopeful Snyder can turn it around.
Snyder led Akron to within a game of the Eastern League title in 2006, topping the Aeros in homers and RBIs. The Indians batted him second and even leadoff, trying to give him more experience working deep counts and taking pitches, but he still ranked 10th in the minors in strikeouts. Like Brian Barton, Snyder has an intriguing power/speed combination. He has a wide base of tools, plus bat speed and above-average arm strength. While he still struck out a lot, his plate discipline did improve as he set a career high in walks. His inability to make consistent contact mutes Snyder's impressive tools, and he'll probably never hit for much of an average. His main task coming into 2006 was to improve his two-strike approach, and while club officials commend his effort, he didn't make progress. Snyder hit .314 with nine of his 18 homers in August, but he still struck out in bunches. He'll compete with trade acquisition Shin-Soo Choo to be Cleveland's right fielder, and the Tribe may have to live with Snyder's whiffs for the tradeoff of his power and speed.
Snyder has come a long way since a car accident sidetracked his career during his freshman year at Ball State. He rebounded to become the Mid- American Conference player of the year and a first-round pick in 2003, but then missed spring training in 2004 with an eye infection that set back his development. He found his stride in Double-A last year, helping Akron win the Eastern League championship. Snyder has drawn comparisons to Paul O'Neill and Fred Lynn for his wide base of tools. He has the sweetest swing and the best power in the organization, with plus bat speed that produces easy pop to all fields. He's an above-average runner with good instincts on the bases. While he has the speed and range to play center field, his tools are best suited for right. He has average arm strength that plays up thanks to his accuracy and instincts. Snyder's lack of strike-zone discipline hampers him at the plate. He fanned 158 times last year, and big league pitchers could exploit his tendency to swing and miss. He struggles with breaking balls down and away, and he's still learning how to stay back and drive balls consistently. Snyder will head back to Double-A to further hone his approach and tighten up his zone. He should earn a Triple-A promotion by midseason.
A car accident put Snyder's career in jeopardy following his freshman year at Ball State, but he made a full recovery and became the 2003 Mid- American Conference player of the year. He missed spring training and much of April in 2004 with an eye infection before contact lenses helped correct the problem. Snyder has drawn comparisons to the likes of Paul O'Neill and Grady Sizemore for his broad base of tools and advanced hitting approach. His sweet, compact stroke and his bat speed produce easy power to the opposite field. He runs well and displays good instincts on the bases. He also has a strong arm. While he plays an admirable center field, Snyder is better suited for a corner role and probably will settle into right field. He still needs to become more comfortable in turning on pitches on the inner half to fully tap into his power potential. Snyder fanned 82 times in 62 games in his pro debut, but after making better contact in 2004 he's on the verge of an offensive breakthrough. He'll begin his second full season in Double-A.
After growing up as an Indians fan in Bellevue, Ohio, Snyder was thrilled when his local team drafted him. His career was threatened by an auto accident after his freshman year at Ball State, but he made a full recovery. He was the 2003 Mid-American Conference player of the year and the fourth first-round pick in Ball State history. Snyder has all-around tools. He's a patient hitter with a quick bat and the ability to turn on pitches. When he extends his arms, he can drive the ball out of any part of the park. He's an average runner but covers enough ground to play center field. His arm is average as well. Snyder stuck out 82 times in 62 games and will have to make better contact. He has a slight loop in his swing that he'll have to iron out, and he'll have to adapt to quality breaking stuff. His reads on the basepaths and in center field also need work. A right fielder at Ball State, Snyder will enhance his value as a pro if he can stay in center. The Indians plan on keeping him there, and he'll spend 2004 in Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Snyder drew comparisons to Fred Lynn and Paul O'Neill because of his strong base of tools, particularly his sweet, compact swing from the left side. Snyder has above-average bat speed that produces easy power to all fields, runs well and has excellent instincts. CL pitchers liked to work him inside with fastballs until he adjusted, started to turn on those pitches and jerk them over the right-field fence. While he plays a solid center field, he lacks true range for the position and saw action in left and right once he was called up to Double-A. His makeup and work ethic are off the charts. "He just carries himself differently," Winston-Salem hitting coach Andy Tomberlin said. "You see that maturity in his approach at the plate, in the field. Just everything he does commands your attention."
Snyder was in a serious auto accident in 2001, breaking his left ankle, right hand and right toe. He recovered and became a first-round pick in June. He's a fine athlete with four solid average tools. He uses a wide, slightly open stance at the plate and has a fluid stroke. Snyder has strong hands through the hitting zone, and the leverage he generates creates loft power potential. He'll have to make more contact after fanning 82 times in 63 games. Defensively, Snyder has adequate range but a below-average arm may limit him to left field.