2006 Scouting Report

Beloit Snappers

• Pohlman Field, Beloit, Wisconsin.
• Affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.
• Manager: Jeff Smith.
• Coaches: Rudy Hernandez & Steve Mintz (pitching).

This page profiles the 2006 Beloit Snappers, a Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins and a member of the Midwest League.

• History: MWLguide.com

Profile

Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics on this page are through September 4, 2006.

Season Summary

• Second Half: 39-31, .557 (2nd place tie, 3.5 behind)
• First Half: 35-33, .515 (4th place, 5.5 behind)
• Pitching: 74-64, 3.18, 35 saves, 5 complete games, 1128 strikeouts
• Hitting: .259, 602 runs scored, 65 HR, 115 steals (57% success)
• Defense: 170 errors (1.23 per game)
• April: 12-10 (.545)
• May: 13-16 (.448)
• June: 15-11 (.577)
• July: 17-12 (.586)
• August-September: 17-15 (.532)
• Playoff Round 1: 2-1 (.667)
• Playoff Round 2: 0-2 (.000)

• Position Players used: 23
• Pitchers used: 18
• Pitchers per game: 3.1

Leading Players

• Best Player on the Team: Utility Pitcher Yohan Pino

• Best Starting Pitcher: Alexander Smit (2.99, 7-2, 141 Ks)
• Bullpen Stopper: none
• Strikeout Pitchers: Eddie Morlan, Yohan Pino, Alexander Smit
• Control Pitchers: Kyle Waldrop, Armando Gabino, Dan Leatherman, Eddie Morlan, Yohan Pino, Danny Vais

• Best Hitter: Erik Lis (.326, 16 HR, 70 RBI)
• Home Run Leader: Erik Lis (16)
• High Batting Average: Erik Lis (.326), Mark Robinson (.304)
• High On Base Percentage: Erik Lis (.402), Whitney Robbins (.421)
• High Slugging Percentage: Erik Lis (.547), Whitney Robbins (.482)
• Notable Baserunners: Edward Ovalle, Tarrence Patterson
• Notable Batting Eye: none

Mid-July Profile

The Snappers are still pretty much an average MWL team, and continue to win about half their games. There are a couple stars to make the games interesting, and they've a good shot at a playoff slot.

Last writeup they had two fine shortstops on the roster; they've now got two star-quality first basemen in Eric Lis--a marginal MVP candidate--and late arrival Whitney Robbins. While Lis is the team's best power source, there are several players with home run reach; there's also some speed, though it's not deployed particularly well.

Yohan Pino remains this team's best pitcher; he's still mainly working middle relief. Oswaldo Sosa and Eduardo Morlan have pitched better than their won/lost records show; Morlan has excellent command and may develop nicely. There's no one in the 'pen who even vaguely resembles a closer, which is perhaps an organizational decision.

May Profile

The Snappers have scored 208 runs while surrendering 208; predictably, they've won about half of their games so far. All in all this is an average team. Both their baserunning and their defense leave a bit to be desired.

First baseman Erik Lis improved his performance in May and is now a legitimate MVP candidate. Shortstops Paul Kelly and Steven Tolleson (I presume one of these guys usually DHs) are both having fine seasons at the plate, as are outfielder Edward Ovalle and catcher Caleb Moore. Past these few, things drop off considerably.

The best pitcher on this staff has been Yohan Pino, but he's working mixed relief roles and that doesn't show in my usual breakouts. Brian Duensing and Eduardo Morlan have pitched very well, but suffered from poor support. Daniel Powers has also pitched well from the bullpen.

April Profile

One fine hitter, a few guys to help him, and an interestingly-arranged pitching staff.

First baseman Erik Lis joins the long string of strong sluggers who've played at Pohlman Field/Telfer Park; catcher Caleb Moore and OF Terrance Patterson are each contributing a bunch of singles. Patterson's fast, but perhaps a little reckless on the basepaths.

Brian Duensing's a good, solid starting pitcher, and Adam Hawes has pitched well. The relievers don't seem to have clearly defined roles; Eduardo Morlan, Yohan Pino, Daniel Powers, David Shinskie, and Danny Vais have all thrown well from the 'pen.

Pre-Season Profile

Manager

Jeff Smith has never managed a minor league team before.

First Round Draft Selection

• Henry Sanchez (2005; sandwich pick, 39th player drafted.)

Team Age Information

• Average Team Age:   21.2
• Pitchers:   21.7
• Hitters:   21.0

• Oldest Player on the Team: Danny Powers (born 7/24/1982)
• Youngest Player on the Team: Allan De San Miguel (born 2/1/1988)

The average player in the Midwest League this season is 21.9 years old. This information is based on opening day rosters as published on the team website and will not be updated.

Where they played last season

This summary is based on the team's opening day roster and will not be revised to reflect roster changes.

This is basically last year's extremely successful Elizabethton team, spiced with a few hitters from elsewhere in the organization. This may be the team to beat this summer.

Team         League             W/L    Place    Hitters Pitchers
                                     (Teams)
Fort Myers   Florida State (A+) 74/59  4(12)       2      0
Beloit       Midwest (A)        69/71  8(14)       4      4
Elizabethton Appalachian (R+)   48/19  1(10)       7      9
Twins        Gulf Coast (R)     28/26 4T(12)       4      0

The Twins rarely move players in mid-season; most of these guys spent last summer at one location. The handful who moved spent only a few games with their other team. It's worth noting that both Fort Myers "representatives" spent most of their summer in the GCL. One of these players was drafted from another organization.