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A Look At Travis Snider

By Tim Dierkes [November 21, 2008 at 2:51pm CST]

Today let's take a look at Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider.

Snider was drafted 14th overall out of high school in 2006. He ascended very quickly, starting 2008 in High A ball and making it to the Majors. Only 20 years old, he hit .301/.338/.466 in 80 big league plate appearances.

More importantly than his brief Major League stint, let's look at Snider's Major League Equivalent. This is a translation of his minor league work in Major League terms. That line: .277/.358/.485. 23 HR in 480 ABs. In a way, that's what we might've expected if he spent all of 2008 in the bigs. Would've been a phenomenal rookie season for a kid so young.

Scouting-wise, Baseball America loves Snider. They say he has the tools to hit for average and power, but has below-average speed.

Much like Jay Bruce in 2008, Snider's '09 opportunity is in question. At present, the Jays are undecided at left field and DH. However, they could sign a DH-type and continue trying Adam Lind in left. Assuming Lyle Overbay stays, Snider could be in line for more Triple A seasoning (he's only had 18 games at the level, and keeping him there for a few months could delay free agency by a year).

Last spring Bruce was drafted in the 27th round on average, so in a 12-team mixed league you could've waited til the reserve round or picked him up midseason. It figures to be a similar situation for Snider, and he's not the double-digit steal threat Bruce was. Snider is certainly a top keeper, a guy who could hit .300 with 30 HR in 2010. But for '09, he seems like more of a 20 HR type with playing time questions. Worth a flier, nothing more in non-keeper leagues.

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