Brad Snyder

Snyder strikes out more than an acne-faced, calculator watch-wearing bassoonist in high school, and it's finally catching up to him. Having whiffed 158 times in each of the previous two seasons, he was well on his way to another high total at Triple-A before breaking his thumb at the end of July, ending his season. He's destined for a nothing more than a bench role in the big leagues unless he can make more consistent contact. Until then, the raw power displays will get farther and farther apart.

Snyder took a step back in 2006. After hitting 16 HR in 304 Double-A at-bats in 2005, the young outfielder hit only 18 in 523 at-bats last year. We tend to call that regression and if he doesn't make the jump to Triple-A in 2007, you can pretty much finish the Cleveland chapter of his biography.

Snyder forgot something while making the leap from the low minor leagues to Double-A Akron in 2005: Selectivity. His numbers were nice, setting career highs in doubles, home runs, runs and tying his top RBI season. However, he also struck out 94 times in 304 at bats and walked only 25 times after coming out of college with a good eye reputation. He showed marked improvement while hitting .367 in 25 games in the Arizona Fall League, so a turnaround should be expected. If so, he could be in Cleveland's outfield plans by 2007.

Snyder is several years out before he makes his big league debut, but faired well for low Single-A Lake County and high Single-A Kinston, hitting .280 and .355 respectively after being the 18th overall pick in last year's draft.

Snyder, one of Cleveland's 2003 first-round draft picks, is a solid hitter with a strong work ethic, and good baseball instincts. Average in the tools department, the combination has many making the comparison to Paul O'Neil. With the depth they already have, it's going to be very crowded next spring.