IP | 34.2 |
---|---|
ERA | 2.34 |
WHIP | 1.21 |
BB/9 | 2.86 |
SO/9 | 10.38 |
- Full name Robert Matthew Snelling
- Born 12/19/2003 in Reno, NV
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: L
- School Mcqueen
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Drafted in the CB-A round (39th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2022 (signed for $3,000,000).
View Draft Report
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 Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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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
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
-
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 -
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 -
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'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.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 60.