Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Last summer, Snelling hit the showcase circuit as a big, strong left-handed pitcher who was also a big-time football recruit. Originally planning on heading to Arizona to play both sports, he changed gears when Jay Johnson was named Louisiana State's head coach. Snelling switched his commitment, and with it, the chance to play football at the next level. This spring, he’s continued to show he has a strong future on the mound.

Snelling is a big, physical presence on the mound, one who shook off tacklers as a quarterback and punished offensive players as a linebacker. The 6-foot-3 left-hander has plenty of fastball, routinely up to 94 mph, touching as high as 97 over the summer. His best pitch is his curveball and he can really spin it, a plus breaker thrown in the upper 70s that misses a ton of bats. He has a changeup that has the chance to be average, but he doesn’t use it much.

In addition to the strong fastball-curve combination, Snelling does a very good job of filling up the strike zone. He brings a football mentality to the mound and has the frame to be able to handle a starting pitcher’s workload. Scouting directors have spent a lot of time in Reno, and it’s possible Snelling goes high enough to not follow Johnson to LSU.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

A college recruit as both a pitcher and linebacker, Snelling helped seal his professional place on the mound by setting a Nevada state single-season record with 146 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings as a senior at Reno’s McQueen High School in 2022. The Padres took the southpaw 39th overall that July and signed him for well above slot at $3 million. He dominated while reaching Double-A in his first full pro season, then regressed significantly this year before San Diego included him in the Tanner Scott/Bryan Hoeing trade with the Marlins in July.

Snelling worked at 92-95 mph and touched 96 late in the season in 2023, but he has operated more at 90-92 this year, still missing some bats thanks to his flat approach angle and deception. His two-plane curveball hasn't been the same plus pitch it was last season, parking in the upper 70s. He continues to fiddle with an 85-87 mph changeup, and more refinement could turn it into an average offering in time.

The 6-foot-3 hurler earned praise from San Diego officials for his ability to make adjustments at each passing level, and his athletic background should help keep him throwing strikes the higher he climbs. His strong 2023 success reinforced his high floor as a future Major League starter, and he could push into at least the middle of a rotation if he can regain his stuff from a year ago.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

A universe exists in which Snelling went to Arizona this year as a two-sport athlete, playing both football and baseball. Instead, Jay Johnson, who would have been his coach with the Wildcats, moved to LSU and brought Snelling’s commitment for baseball only with him. That may have been a big step in making the Nevada native a full-time pitcher in 2022 and beyond, but the truth is Snelling’s senior season at Reno’s McQueen High School -- in which he set a state single-season record with 146 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings, breaking the previous mark set by Shawn Estes in 1991 -- likely locked him onto the diamond for good. The Padres took the left-hander 39th overall and signed him above slot for $3 million.

Both a quarterback and a linebacker in his football days, Snelling has the size and presence of both positions at a listed 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. He can work the fastball around 93-95 mph and has a history of touching 97. He shows quality feel for spin by altering the velo and shape of his low-80s breaking ball according to his needs, and it does a nice job of keeping hitters off the four-seam. Like many young pitchers, the southpaw rarely needed a changeup as an amateur, so that could be a deciding pitch in his future.

Snelling goes right after batters with his two best pitches and projects to be at least an average strike-thrower given his athletic background. He became a quick mover in his first full season, jumping from Single-A to High-A while racking up strikeouts at both stops, and he's become the organization's top pitching prospect.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Last summer, Snelling hit the showcase circuit as a big, strong left-handed pitcher who was also a top football recruit. Originally planning on heading to Arizona to play both sports, he changed gears when Jay Johnson was named Louisiana State's head coach. Snelling switched his commitment, and with it, the chance to play football at the next level. This spring, he continued to show he has a strong future on the mound, and that was enough for San Diego to take him 39th overall and sign him for above slot at $3 million.

Snelling is a major physical presence on the mound, one who shook off tacklers as a quarterback and punished offensive players as a linebacker. The 6-foot-3 left-hander has plenty of fastball, routinely up to 94 mph, touching as high as 97 over the summer. His best pitch is his curveball and he can really spin it, a plus breaker thrown in the upper 70s that misses a ton of bats. He has a changeup that has the chance to be average, but he doesn’t use it much.

In addition to the strong fastball-curve combination, Snelling does a very good job of filling up the strike zone. He brings a football mentality to the mound and has the frame to be able to handle a starting pitcher’s workload. 

Awards

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Baseball America Low Class A All-Star

Year	Team
2023

MiLB Awards All-MiLB Prospect First Team

Year	Team
2023

Baseball America Minor League All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year

Year	Team
2023

CAL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

CAL Pitcher of the Year

Year	Team
2023

TEX Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
09/03/2023

CAL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
05/07/2023

+ View More Awards

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/20/2024	LHP Robby Snelling assigned to Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp from Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
	08/03/2024	Pensacola Blue Wahoos activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	07/30/2024	Miami Marlins traded LHP Tanner Scott and RHP Bryan Hoeing to San Diego Padres for RHP Adam Mazur, 2B Jay Beshears, LHP Robby Snelling and 3B Graham Pauley.
	07/30/2024	LHP Robby Snelling assigned to Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
	07/14/2024	National League Futures activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	03/07/2024	San Diego Padres Prospects activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	01/26/2024	San Diego Padres invited non-roster LHP Robby Snelling to spring training.
	08/22/2023	LHP Robby Snelling assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps.
	08/22/2023	San Antonio Missions activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	06/27/2023	LHP Robby Snelling assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
	06/27/2023	Fort Wayne TinCaps activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	04/03/2023	LHP Robby Snelling assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
	03/06/2023	LHP Robby Snelling assigned to ACL Padres from Padres Organization.
	08/16/2022	LHP Robby Snelling assigned to Padres Organization.
	08/01/2022	San Diego Padres signed LHP Robby Snelling.
	06/11/2022	LHP Robby Snelling assigned to College Workout.
	06/11/2022	College Workout activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	08/18/2021	LHP Robby Snelling and assigned to PG West.
	07/17/2021	PG National 11 - Vegas Gold activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	07/13/2021	PG National 11 - Vegas Gold activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	07/08/2021	American activated LHP Robby Snelling.
	07/08/2021	American activated LHP Robby Snelling.