- Ian Snell
Infobox MLB player
width=300
name=Ian Snell
position=Starting Pitcher
team=Pittsburgh Pirates
number=45
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|10|30
debutdate=August 20
debutyear=2004
debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
statyear=2007
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=24-26
stat3label=Strikeout s
stat3value=389
stat2label=Earned Run Average
stat2value=4.40
teams=
*Pittsburgh Pirates (by|2004-present)Ian Dante Snell (born
October 30 ,1981 inDover, Delaware ) is apitcher inMajor League Baseball who currently plays for thePittsburgh Pirates . He throws and bats right-handed. From by|2001-by|2003, he went by the name Ian Oquendo, which is the last name of his wife. However, Snell was his surname at birth. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031231205527/http://piratereport.com/features/story/093202003_feaMinors+-+Oquendo.asp An Opening for Oquendo] By John Perrotto, Pirate Report Online, Sept. 3, 2003, saved at the Internet Archive Sept. 7, 2003] He throws a mid-90'sfastball , along with acurveball ,slider andchangeup .High School
Ian Snell is a 2000 graduate of
Caesar Rodney High School inCamden, Delaware . There he was a three-sport athlete, playing football, baseball and basketball.Professional Career
Snell made his professional debut with the rookie league Gulf Coast Pirates in 2000 after being selected by the Pirates in the 26th round of the amateur draft. He made his debut on July 17, pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless relief against the GCL Expos.
In by|2001, Snell split the season between the GCL Pirates and the single-A
Williamsport Crosscutters .Snell played his by|2002 season with the
South Atlantic League Champion Hickory, a Single-A club. There he ranked fourth among league pitchers in strikeouts and seventh in ERA.In by|2003, when Snell went 14-4 with a 3.00 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 26 minor league starts, split between Single-A Lynchburg and AA Altoona, he was named the Pirates organizational Pitcher-of-the-Year.
2004
Snell spent the majority of his by|2004 season with Altoona. He set a single-season Curve record and finished second in the league with 142 strikeouts. He was later called to the Pirates, making his major-league debut on August 20 against the St. Louis. In his debut, he surrendered one hit (a solo home run to
John Mabry ), three walks and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work. He was optioned back to Altoona but was recalled again on September 21, after Altoona's season ended.2005
In by|2005, Snell split the season between the AAA
Indianapolis Indians , going 11-3 with a 3.70 ERA, and the Pirates. While with the Indians, he pitched ano-hitter on May 15 against theNorfolk Tides . He was named theInternational League pitcher of the week twice, for the weeks ending May 1 and May 15. He made 2 separate appearances for the Pirates, from June 26-August 16 and again from September 12 to the end of the season. He appeared in 15 games, including 5 starts. His first win came September 19, againstRoger Clemens and theHouston Astros . In this game, he allowed only three singles in eight innings of work. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E0DA1630F933A1575AC0A9639C8B63 BASEBALL: ROUNDUP; Red Sox' Lead Falls to Half-Game - New York Times ] ] It would be his only win in 2005, though, as he finished the season 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA in over 42 innings.2006
In by|2006, Snell won 14 games, the most for Pittsburgh in several seasons, while losing 11 and leading the team in strikeouts.
2007
On January 28, 2007, the
Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association honored Snell as the "John J. Brady Athlete of the Year", an award given annually to the best athlete fromDelaware . [" [http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070129/SPORTS01/701290338/1002/SPORTS New level, same swagger for Snell] ", Scott Lauber, the Wilmington News Journal, publishedJanuary 29 ,2007 , accessedJanuary 30 ,2007 .]2008
On March 16, 2008, Snell agreed to a 3-year contract extension with the Pirates worth at least $8 million, including club options for 2011 and 2012. [ [http://www.courant.com/sports/other/hc-baseup0317.artmar17,0,568146.story Atlanta Braves - Courant.com ] ]
External links
* [http://mondesishouse.blogspot.com/2006/10/ian-snell-hates-pittsburgh.html Mondesi's House - Ian Snell Hates Pittsburgh]
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
