*** Diamonds In the Rough - Earl Snyder ***
The My Sportsbook
by Jonathan O'Konis, Minor League Baseball Editor
Hatboro, PA (My Sportsbook) - Some players have trouble playing baseball close to their hometown. For example, Ken Griffey Jr. has been with Cincinnati since 2000 and he's still adjusting. However, Pawtucket slugger Earl Snyder is not among them, thank you.
Since coming home to the Red Sox organization, Snyder has 52 home runs and 151 RBI over the past two seasons.
Originally from Plainville, CT, Snyder grew up as a Red Sox fan. He was a stand-out college player for the University of Hartford where he was a three- time All-Conference and All-New England selection. While in college, he set nine school batting records and hit .451. Drafted in the 36th round of the 1998 draft by the Mets, Snyder blasted his way through the Mets' system. In 1999 he led the South Atlantic League with 28 home runs and hit .267/.339/.508. In 2000 he was team MVP at St. Lucie batting .282/.358/.479 with 25 homers. He improved in 2001 when he was named the Mets' Minor League Player of the Year at Double-A Binghamton where he hit .283/.374/.526 with 20 home runs and 75 RBI. His New York debut was only a matter of time.
It was during the 2001 offseason when his career went off the fast track to the Mets. Snyder was part of the supposed megadeal that sent future Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar to the Mets from Cleveland. So after experiencing nothing except success in the Mets system, Snyder packed his bags and headed to Buffalo (Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate).
Statistically, the 2002 season was a year of highs and lows for Snyder. At Buffalo, he had his least impressive season to date, hitting .263/.341/.483 with 19 home runs and 66 RBI. Not bad numbers, but below his own standard. Despite this, Snyder did make his major league debut for Cleveland as a pinch hitter on April 28. "It was the biggest thrill of my career being called up to Cleveland. You don't forget anything that's going on up there," Snyder said. In 55 at-bats Snyder hit .200/.279/.291 for the big league club.
On January 13, 2003, Snyder began his trek home when he was picked up off waivers by the Red Sox. In his first season with Pawtucket, he split time between first and third base. He hit .255/.299/.454 with 22 home runs and 71 RBI.
This season his hitting's improved - .276/.332/.568 with 30 home runs and 80 RBI and was named a starter for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star game. As for playing in Pawtucket, Snyder couldn't be happier. "It's great. I love playing here. If you're going to play in Triple-A, this is the place to play. The fans are great. It's also close to my family. Everybody around here is an addict for baseball. It's really great to play in this atmosphere," Snyder said recently.
As for playing for his boyhood team, Snyder said "It's fun. I've been a fan (of the Red Sox) all my life. So meeting guys like Dwight Evans and Ellis Burks, guys I used love watching while I was growing up, and sit there and talking hitting with them, they may not realize it, but it's a pretty big thrill for me. They've been really great every time I've talked to them and I love meeting guys like that."
He's been primarily a third basemen for Pawtucket, since the Red Sox picked him up. Snyder has worked hard to make himself a good defender and his hard work seems to be paying off. With Bill Mueller and Kevin Youkilis ahead of him on the depth chart, third base may not be an option at the big-league level. However his ability to play first base, third base and the outfield should make him a valuable utility player.
"Getting back to the big leagues in whatever role they need is definitely the best thing that could happen. Especially here in Boston, where you can't say enough about the fans because they're so knowledgeable about baseball. I'm a bit of a homer. That would be a huge thrill to have that opportunity,"said Snyder.
