IAN SNELL

10/30/81; '00 26th; Dover, DE (HS)
R/R; 5-11, 160

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA
2000 R	1-0-0	4	4	7.2	5	1	8	2.35
2001 A-	7-0-0	10	9	64.2	55	10	56	1.39
2001 R	3-0-0	3	3	19.0	12	5	13	0.47
2002 A	11-6-0	24	22	139.2	127	45	149	2.71
2003 AA	4-0-0	6	6	36.2	36	10	23	1.96
2003 A+	10-3-0	20	20	116.1	105	33	122	3.33
2004 NL	0-1-0	3	1	12.0	14	9	9	7.50
2004 AA	11-7-0	26	26	151.0	147	40	142	3.16

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA	OAVG	OOBP	OSLG
2005 NL	1-2-0	15	5	42.0	43	24	34	5.14	.267	.364	.447
2005 AAA	11-3-0	18	18	112.0	90	23	104	3.70	.216	.258	.373

Snell, formerly known as Ian Oquendo, is one of a number of late-round draft picks who have emerged as excellent prospects from the three years in which Mickey White was the Pirates' scouting director.  Snell had an outstanding 2002 season, becoming more and more dominant as the season wore on.  After starting 2003 slowly, he had a lengthy stretch around mid-season in which he was nearly unhittable.  That earned him a promotion to AA, where he mostly pitched well.  He was chosen the organization's pitcher of the year for 2003, as well as the Carolina League's 9th best prospect.  Snell's out pitch is a hard curve that was regarded as the best in the Carolina League.  His fastball reaches the mid-90s and is generally in the low 90s.  He had a consistently excellent K rate in class A.  It dropped in his brief time in AA in 2003, but was very good there in 2004.  He's considered to be the best-conditioned athlete in the system and fields his position well.

Snell had a strong 2004 season in AA, being chosen as the Eastern League's 19th best prospect and the RHP on the post-season All-Star team.  He was called up briefly in August due to injuries and got in one game, then came up in September after the Eastern League playoffs were over.  He started 2005 in the AAA rotation and, most of the time, pitched brilliantly.  His peripheral stats were much better than his ERA, as he held opponents to a .216 BA and .258 OBP, and fanned nearly a batter an inning.  Although he dominated in most of his starts—including a complete game no-hitter—when he didn't dominate he tended to get bombed.  This is reflected in his allowing 14 HRs and a .373 opponents' slugging average that, while still low, isn't as impressive as his other stats.  Part of the problem may have been the fact that Snell doesn't changing speeds well—he lacks an effective change—and not knowing how to work hitters.  He seems to rely heavily on trying to throw the ball past hitters.  He showed the same sort of tendency after he was called up in late June.  He did well at times, but he had innings in which nearly every batter hit a rocket.  He pitched mainly in relief until he was sent back down for Indianapolis' successful playoff push.  He came back to the majors for three starts.  The first didn't go well, but in his second start back he threw eight innings of three-hit, shutout ball to beat Roger Clemens and the Astros.  He pitched OK in his third start.

The Pirates have so far resisted giving in to the stereotyped view that small RHPs aren't starters, but Snell's lack of a third pitch seemed likely to force their hand.  Increasingly common reports have also criticized Snell's attitude.  He initially appeared to be headed for the bullpen or AAA in 2006, but the loss of Kip Wells created an opportunity that he took advantage of by having the best spring of any starter.  In particular, he showed an improved changeup.  Snell will start the season in the major league rotation.

Return to Pitchers