Brandon Snyder

[Frobby]

In his last two blogs Doc Shorebird has been raving about how Snyder strokes balls the the right field power alley at will. That's a sign of a good hitter. Doc's also impressed with his defense at 3B, where he and Rowell have been taking turns.

My gut tells me that Snyder is going to remove all doubt about why we drafted him no. 9 overall in 2005. Of all the O's prospects I may be rooting for him the hardest. He had a tough injury to overcome and has worked very hard to do it.

[Moose Milligan]

I agree. I'm glad to hear the positive reports and it shows that the kid isn't afraid to work hard and overcome obstacles.

Seems like a lot of our minor leaguers have important seasons ahead of them...granted, you could say that about anyones minor leaguers, I'm sure...but everyone in our crop seems to have to come up big this year.

[hoosiers]

Snyder was selected 13th overall in 2005. It was Rowell who was selected ninth in 2006.

It would be nice if Snyder re-established himself as one of the best HS hitters in the 2005 draft. I feel confident he will do well at Frederick as the level of competition shouldn't be so much harder than Hawaii.

If Snyder cuts down a bit on the Ks, he should really blossom.

[imua29]

We're cheering hard for Brandon here in Hawai'i. I signed up for the plus membership just to read up on how he's doing. I'm so happy to hear the great reports. When do we find out what team he plays on? I need to order a baseball cap for my son.

Imua Brandon!

[Jammer7]

Frobby, I've been thinking the same thing. Doc's reports are encouraging. His bat has really improved since the middle of last season and I think he may just bust out in Frederick this year, in more of a hitter's park. Plus, he'll have Wieters, Tripp, Vinyard and possibly Matt Angle and Billy Rowell around him. Of course, if he's able to play 3B well then maybe they should leave Rowell at Delmarva for now.

[AVencill]

Doc's great reviews of Brandon, albeit so early in the spring, really have me excited for the next 3 weeks to zoom by so I can see the in-game action when he arrives in Frederick. The potential lineup could be one of the best, and most powerful in many years.

I will be interested what Keys manager Tommy Thompson will do since Synder and Rowell are both fielding grounders at third base currently. It seems as if there will be a number of combinations with them in the field at the corner infield spots and perhaps rotating at DH every few days or so.

[mikezpen]

I think Frederick may go undefeated.

[ADK24]

We're cheering hard for Brandon here in Hawai'i. I signed up for the plus membership just to read up on how he's doing. I'm so happy to hear the great reports. When do we find out what team he plays on? I need to order a baseball cap for my son.

Imua Brandon!

The rosters should be set by March 30th or 31st and will posted here. It should be a safe bet at this point that Brandon will be at Frederick however there is still a little over 2 weeks left in ST and injuries and/or trades could change the projections up to this point.

[AVencill]

I think Frederick may go undefeated.

If that includes another Mills Cup trophy, I would be A-OK with that!!!

[Ruzious]

I think Snyder has eclipsed Rowell as the O's #2 positional prospect. Actually, I thought he had done that before ST, and these reports make me more confident about it.

[Frobby]

I think Snyder has eclipsed Rowell as the O's #2 positional prospect. Actually, I thought he had done that before ST, and these reports make me more confident about it.

I don't think that, though it could happen this year. I keep coming back to the fact that Rowell played the entire season at Delmarva last year at age 18. Snyder's numbers were a little better, but he's 2 years older.

Put it this way - Rowell will play at Frederick this year at age 19. Nick Markakis was drafted at that age and played at Aberdeen. Snyder was at Delmarva at that age and stuggled horribly. Reimold was a freshman in college and put up an .807 OPS in a non-elite college conference. Wieters was a freshman in college, and while he put up awesome numbers, he was still 2 years away from being drafted. Rowell is playing against far tougher competition at the same age as those prospects, and you have to judge him accordingly.

With all that said, Snyder really looks ready for a major leap forward, so maybe he will convince me he's ahead of Rowell by putting up numbers at Frederick that are as good or better than what he did in Hawaii. I think there's a 50-50 shot he progresses to Bowie sometime during the season.

[DennisTheOsFan]

I am encouraged that Snyder is hitting well and especially that he looks better defensively at 3rd. Reason being, we don't have to put all our hopes on Rowell panning out. It very well could happen--but Snyder could keep us from panicking if he doesn't.

Wasn't Snyder thought to be the top high school bat the year he was drafted?

[hoosiers]

I am encouraged that Snyder is hitting well and especially that he looks better defensively at 3rd. Reason being, we don't have to put all our hopes on Rowell panning out. It very well could happen--but Snyder could keep us from panicking if he doesn't.

Wasn't Snyder thought to be the top high school bat the year he was drafted?

Snyder was considered one of the best "pure" bats of his class and someone who should develop power. His was a very strong HS class though - with Maybin, McCutcheon, Bruce and others drafted ahead of him.