Robby Snelling

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #7 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
  
  Track Record: Snelling was well regarded in high school both in baseball and football. The Padres drafted him in the supplemental first round in 2022 and signed him for $3 million, going $1 million over slot. Snelling was brilliant in his first full season, pitching to a 1.82 ERA in 2023 while flying to Double-A and earning the Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. However, he faced much rougher waters in his return to Double-A in 2024, with an ERA over 5.00. The Padres traded him to the Marlins in a midseason deal that brought back relievers Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing.
  
  Scouting Report: Snelling isn’t your typical raw, projectable high school arm. His body is already mature, and he features a diverse repertoire rather than one or two plus pitches. His fastball is 90-95 mph with ride, and he likes to pitch up in the zone with it, but it can be hittable if he leaves it over the heart of the plate. His 78-82 mph slider is a slower, sweepier breaking pitch with two-plane depth that he likes to bury to his glove side. His changeup has improved throughout his pro career and now projects to be a solid-average offering with fade and arm speed. Snelling attacked hitters relentlessly in the low minors, but in the upper levels he got hit more and started to pitch around the edges, leading to increased walk rates. There’s still hope that he will be at least an average strike-thrower at peak.
  
  The Future: Snelling’s 2024 struggles were concerning, especially considering he lacks true wipeout stuff and that the strikes have regressed. However, he will still be 21 in 2025, with the ingredients to be a No. 3 or 4 starter if he can improve his strike-throwing and get his fastball more into the higher bands of its velocity range. He will likely open 2025 at Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #3 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 60/High
  
  Track Record: The Padres lured Snelling away from a commitment to Louisiana State in 2022 with a $3 million bonus, which was $1 million over slot for the 39th pick. In high school he starred in baseball and was a four-star recruit as a linebacker in football. Snelling was worth every penny. He breezed through 11 starts in his pro debut at Low-A Lake Elsinore with a 1.57 ERA, then made seven starts at High-A Fort Wayne and four more at Double-A San Antonio, including five no-hit innings in his second Texas League start. Snelling’s 1.82 ERA was the lowest of any minor league pitcher with at least 100 innings. He finished his first season in pro ball as the BA Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
  
  Scouting Report: Broad shouldered with a thick, muscular lower half, Snelling shed roughly 10 pounds in the offseason following his draft year to become more whippy with his delivery. A spike-grip, 11-to-5 curveball was one of the better breakers in his prep class, but it has played up because of the way he locates and tunnels it off of a 95-96 mph fastball with ride. His curve velocity ranges from the mid 70s to the mid 80s. Snelling began developing a changeup after the draft and it has some bottom, even if it is a bit firm at 4-5 mph slower than his heater. He also began throwing a tight, above-average slider in 2023, another weapon against lefthanded hitters. Still very much a linebacker on the mound, Snelling is an intense competitor who is unfazed by umpires’ questionable calls and the plays that do not go his way, which contributes to his profile as a sum-of-his-parts pitcher.
  
  The Future: A dominant first season cemented Snelling’s floor as at least a No. 3 starter. He should receive an invite to big league spring training and could be on the MLB radar as soon as 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 60
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #5 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A physical quarterback and four-star recruit as a linebacker, Snelling originally had aspirations of playing both football and baseball in college before a breakout senior spring made him one of the fastest risers in the 2022 draft class. Snelling struck out a Nevada state record 146 batters while showing premium arm strength from the left side and was drafted 39th overall by the Padres. The Padres signed him away from a Louisiana State commitment with a $3 million signing bonus, nearly $1 million above slot, and unveiled him in fall instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Snelling is a physical lefthander who is built like a football player with broad, tapered shoulders and a thick and muscular lower half. His fastball jumped from 90-94 mph to 92-96 as a senior and he maintained that increased velocity when the Padres finally pushed him to the mound at instructional league. Snelling possesses a natural ability to spin the baseball and throws a spike-grip curveball with excellent rotation that was one of the best secondary pitches in the draft. He can manipulate its velocity anywhere from the mid 70s to mid 80s and can alter the shape to give it more sweeping action across the zone or two-plane break with sharp and late vertical bite. Snelling also has a low-80s changeup that he did not throw much in high school but is a focal point of his development. A physical pitcher with a football player's mentality, Snelling pounds the strike zone aggressively and is athletic enough to repeat his delivery. Padres officials rave about Snelling's competitive makeup as the son of a high school football coach.
  
  The Future: Snelling will make his pro debut in 2023 and could see Low-A Lake Elsinore by the end of the year. He has a chance to be a midrotation starter as long as he develops his changeup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 55

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #21 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: McQueen HS, Reno, Nev. Committed/Drafted: Louisiana State
  Age At Draft: 18.6
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: - | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: | Control: 60
  One of the more impressive performers and biggest risers in the country this spring, Snelling is a strong and physical lefthander whose football background is apparent when you see him standing on the mound. Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Snelling has broad, tapered shoulders and a thick and muscular lower half. Last summer, Snelling pitched around 90 mph and touched 94, but this spring his velocity has ticked up a bit and he’s consistently been in the 90-95 mph range, touching 96, and held that velocity throughout his outings. His best secondary offering is a spike-grip curveball with excellent spin. The pitch ranges from the mid 70s to the mid 80s and features plenty of sweeping action at times and two-plane break with sharp and late vertical bite at others. The breaking ball consistently draws plus grades and is one of the better breaking balls in the prep class. On top of his natural feel to spin the baseball, scouts have been impressed with his ability to land the pitch with consistency. Snelling will throw a changeup in the low 80s as well, but he uses the pitch infrequently and it needs refinement to become an average third pitch. While Snelling was plenty physical last summer, scouts thought his body looked more streamlined this spring and he has shown enough touch and feel for scouts to project future plus control. Snelling has a connected delivery and clean arm stroke, and his athleticism helps him repeat everything consistently and spot his fastball/curveball combination to an advanced degree. Snelling is committed to Louisiana State, but he’s been scouted heavily throughout the first round this spring and with two potential plus pitches and plus control from the left side, it won’t be surprising if he’s one of the first arms to come off the board.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #37 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A physical quarterback and four-star recruit as a linebacker, Snelling originally had aspirations of playing both football and baseball in college before a breakout senior spring made him one of the fastest risers in the 2022 draft class. Snelling struck out a Nevada state record 146 batters while showing premium arm strength from the left side and was drafted 39th overall by the Padres. The Padres signed him away from a Louisiana State commitment with a $3 million signing bonus, nearly $1 million above slot, and unveiled him in fall instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Snelling is a physical lefthander who is built like a football player with broad, tapered shoulders and a thick and muscular lower half. His fastball jumped from 90-94 mph to 92-96 as a senior and he maintained that increased velocity when the Padres finally pushed him to the mound at instructional league. Snelling possesses a natural ability to spin the baseball and throws a spike-grip curveball with excellent rotation that was one of the best secondary pitches in the draft. He can manipulate its velocity anywhere from the mid 70s to mid 80s and can alter the shape to give it more sweeping action across the zone or two-plane break with sharp and late vertical bite. Snelling also has a low-80s changeup that he did not throw much in high school but is a focal point of his development. A physical pitcher with a football player's mentality, Snelling pounds the strike zone aggressively and is athletic enough to repeat his delivery. Padres officials rave about Snelling's competitive makeup as the son of a high school football coach.
  
  The Future: Snelling will make his pro debut in 2023 and could see Low-A Lake Elsinore by the end of the year. He has a chance to be a midrotation starter as long as he develops his changeup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A physical quarterback and four-star recruit as a linebacker, Snelling originally had aspirations of playing both football and baseball in college before a breakout senior spring made him one of the fastest risers in the 2022 draft class. Snelling struck out a Nevada state record 146 batters while showing premium arm strength from the left side and was drafted 39th overall by the Padres. The Padres signed him away from a Louisiana State commitment with a $3 million signing bonus, nearly $1 million above slot, and unveiled him in fall instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Snelling is a physical lefthander who is built like a football player with broad, tapered shoulders and a thick and muscular lower half. His fastball jumped from 90-94 mph to 92-96 as a senior and he maintained that increased velocity when the Padres finally pushed him to the mound at instructional league. Snelling possesses a natural ability to spin the baseball and throws a spike-grip curveball with excellent rotation that was one of the best secondary pitches in the draft. He can manipulate its velocity anywhere from the mid 70s to mid 80s and can alter the shape to give it more sweeping action across the zone or two-plane break with sharp and late vertical bite. Snelling also has a low-80s changeup that he did not throw much in high school but is a focal point of his development. A physical pitcher with a football player's mentality, Snelling pounds the strike zone aggressively and is athletic enough to repeat his delivery. Padres officials rave about Snelling's competitive makeup as the son of a high school football coach.
  
  The Future: Snelling will make his pro debut in 2023 and could see Low-A Lake Elsinore by the end of the year. He has a chance to be a midrotation starter as long as he develops his changeup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  August Update: One of the more impressive performers and biggest risers in the country this spring, Snelling is a strong and physical lefthander whose football background is apparent when you see him standing on the mound. Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Snelling has broad, tapered shoulders and a thick and muscular lower half. Last summer, Snelling pitched around 90 mph and touched 94, but this spring his velocity has ticked up a bit and he&#39s consistently been in the 90-95 mph range, touching 96, and held that velocity throughout his outings. His best secondary offering is a spike-grip curveball with excellent spin. The pitch ranges from the mid 70s to the mid 80s and features plenty of sweeping action at times and two-plane break with sharp and late vertical bite at others. The breaking ball consistently draws plus grades and is one of the better breaking balls in the prep class. On top of his natural feel to spin the baseball, scouts have been impressed with his ability to land the pitch with consistency. Snelling will throw a changeup in the low 80s as well, but he uses the pitch infrequently and it needs refinement to become an average third pitch. While Snelling was plenty physical last summer, scouts thought his body looked more streamlined this spring and he has shown enough touch and feel for scouts to project future plus control. Snelling has a connected delivery and clean arm stroke, and his athleticism helps him repeat everything consistently and spot his fastball/curveball combination to an advanced degree.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 60.