Orioles
Promoted 1B Brandon Snyder (1st round, 2005) to Triple-A Norfolk after he batted .343/.421/.597 with 10 home runs in 201 at-bats for Double-A Bowie. The 22-year-old led the Eastern League in slugging at the time of his promotion. Drafted by Baltimore as a catcher with the 13th overall pick, Snyder’s days behind the plate were cut short by a shoulder injury. But for the second consecutive season, he’s proving his bat may be advanced enough to allow him to hold down a corner.

White Sox
Promoted RHP Dan Hudson (5th, 2008) to Double-A Birmingham, the third rung of ladder the Old Dominion product has reached this season. Two other members of Chicago’s robust ’08 draft class already have reached Double-A: Gordon Beckham and Jordan Danks. Hudson ranks seventh in the minors with 87 strikeouts after dealing nine of them in his eight-inning Barons debut.

Brewers
Assigned RHP Jake Odorizzi (1st supp., 2008) to Rookie-level Helena, where he’ll try to build on his strong debut in the Arizona League. The upper Midwest’s top amateur prospect last year and the draft’s 32nd overall selection, Odorizzi struck out 19 AZL batters in 21 innings, but showed his inexperience with nine walks and two home runs allowed.

Twins
Assigned OF Aaron Hicks (1st, 2008) to low Class A Beloit, where the 14th overall pick a year ago has begun by going 3-for-8 with a double, not to mention a 4-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio. As they did last year with ’07 first-rounder Ben Revere, the Twins waited until the Midwest League season was well underway before shipping off their prized prep center fielder. Hicks, the Gulf Coast League’s reigning No. 1 prospect, is an impact player, according  to Beloit manager Nelson Prada.

Mets
Promoted LHP Eric Niesen (3rd, 2007) to Double-A Binghamton after he tamed high Class A in his repeat of the Florida State League. He went 3-4, 3.28 with 49 strikeouts and 16 walks in 57 2/3 innings for St. Lucie.

Phillies
Assigned 3B Anthony Hewitt (1st, 2008) to short-season Williamsport, where he’ll try to erase memories of his GCL debut last season, during which he batted .197/.256/.299 with 55 strikeouts in 117 at-bats. The Phillies weren’t kidding themselves when they drafted Hewitt 24th overall. They knew the bright Connecticut prep star was long on potential, but short on polish.

Pirates
Assigned C Tony Sanchez (1st, 2009) to short-season State College, where the fourth overall pick will begin his professional career.

Mariners
Promoted RHP Phillippe Aumont (1st, 2007) to Double-A West Tenn. The Mariners weren’t kidding when they said the shift to the bullpen would expedite Aumont’s development. The 20-year-old Quebec native appeared in 29 games for high Class A High Desert, compiling a 3.24 ERA to go with a 35-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33 1/3 innings.

Rays
Assigned LHP Kyle Lobstein (2nd, 2008) to short-season Hudson Valley. He signed for $1.5 million at the Aug. 15 deadline last year and had not thrown a pro pitch until making his Renegades debut on Saturday. He allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings. 

Rangers
Assigned LHP Robbie Ross (2nd, 2008) to short-season Spokane. Like the Rays’ Lobstein, Ross is an ’08 high school second-round lefty who signed at the deadline and who made his debut in a short-season A-ball league. Ross struck out nine batters Friday, allowing two runs in five innings of his pro debut.

Blue Jays
Promoted LHP Marc Rzepczynski (2007, 5th) to Triple-A Las Vegas after he logged 88 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings and posted a 2.93 ERA for Double-A New Hampshire. That strikeout total topped the Eastern League, as did his 36 walks. Still, one gets the idea the Blue Jays know what they’re doing when it comes to developing college lefthanders. Their honor roll in the four drafts from 2004 to 2007: David Purcey (’04), Ricky Romero (’05) and Brett Cecil, Rzepczynski and Brad Mills from ’07.

Nationals
Assigned RHP Drew Storen (1st, 2009) to low Class A Hagerstown, where the Stanford product begins his pro career. He signed for $1.6 million on June 10, the day after he was drafted 10th overall.