Brandon Snyder

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Brandon Snyder

| image = Brandon Snyder on July 26, 2013.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Snyder with the Boston Red Sox in 2013

| team = Washington Nationals

| number = 85

| position = Infielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|11|23}}

| birth_place= Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 10

| debutyear = 2010

| debutteam = Baltimore Orioles

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = April 18

|finalyear = 2018

|finalteam = Tampa Bay Rays

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .240

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 9

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 29

| teams =

;As player

Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2011}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2012}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2013}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2016}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2018}})

;As coach

Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2021}}-present)

}}

File:Brandon Snyder 2011.jpg]]

Brandon Roger Snyder (born November 23, 1986) is an American former professional baseball utility player and current coach. Since August 2021, he has been the bullpen catcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Tampa Bay Rays.

Career

Snyder attended Westfield High School in Chantilly, Virginia.

=Baltimore Orioles=

The Baltimore Orioles selected Snyder in the first round, with the thirteenth overall selection, of the 2005 MLB Draft.{{cite web|title=Brandon Snyder Statistics and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/snydebr03.shtml|work=baseball-reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=9 May 2012}}

Snyder made his MLB debut on September 10, 2010 against the Detroit Tigers. He came in as a defensive replacement in the 9th inning.{{cite web|title=September 10, 2010 Baltimore Orioles at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET201009100.shtml|work=Baseball-reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=9 May 2012}} His first Major League hit, an RBI single, came in the second inning on September 13, 2010, against Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marc Rzepczynski.

Snyder played six games in two separate stints with the Orioles in 2011.

=Texas Rangers=

On January 3, 2012, Snyder was traded to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations. He made the Rangers' major-league roster as a backup first baseman and outfielder.

On May 2, 2012, Snyder hit his first Major League home run against Toronto Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero at the Rogers Centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.willierun.com/brandon-snyder-slugs-the-first-home-run-of-his-mlb-career|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210062229/http://www.willierun.com/brandon-snyder-slugs-the-first-home-run-of-his-mlb-career|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2013|title=Brandon Snyder slugs the first home run of his MLB career|work=willierun.com|publisher=Willie Run|access-date=9 May 2012}}

On August 2, 2012, Snyder was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for third baseman Mike Olt.

On December 12, 2012, the Rangers announced that Snyder had signed a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-acquire-whiteside-in-waiver-claim/c-40627762|title=Rangers acquire Whiteside in waiver claim|website=MLB.com}} He was released on March 27, 2013.

=Boston Red Sox=

On March 31, 2013, Snyder signed a minor-league contract with the Pawtucket Red Sox.{{cite web|url=http://www.soxprospects.com/transactions.htm|title=Red Sox Transactions - SoxProspects.com|website=www.soxprospects.com}} His contract was purchased by the Red Sox on June 25, 2013 to take the roster spot of Will Middlebrooks, who was optioned to the minors. Brandon received a World Series ring for his contributions to the Sox in the season. He hit .180 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI’s and 2 doubles in 27 games. Snyder re-signed with the Sox in November, accepting a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. His contract expired after the 2014 season.

=Baltimore Orioles (Second Stint)=

Snyder signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles on April 27, 2015.

=Atlanta Braves=

On November 26, 2015, Snyder signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 11/26/15|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/11/minor-mlb-transactions-112615.html|access-date=June 22, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} On June 2, he was called up to replace the injured Gordon Beckham.{{cite web|title=Braves' Brandon Snyder: Called up from Triple-A|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/braves-brandon-snyder-called-up-from-triple-a/|work=CBS Sports|access-date=2 June 2016}} On August 7, the Braves designated Snyder for assignment. On August 9, he was recalled and optioned to Gwinnett by the Braves.

=Washington Nationals=

On November 17, 2016, Snyder signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.{{cite news|url=http://www.federalbaseball.com/2016/11/20/13691046/nationals-sign-four-including-2005-orioles-first-round-pick-brandon-snyder-minor-league-deals|agency=Federal Baseball|title=Nationals sign four (including '05 Orioles' 1st Round pick Brandon Snyder) to minor league deals|first=Patrick|last=Reddington|date=November 20, 2016|access-date=November 20, 2016}} He spent the 2017 season with the Triple–A Syracuse Chiefs, playing in 121 games and batting .263/.356/.490 with 23 home runs and 77 RBI. Snyder elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=March 3, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On December 14, 2017, Snyder signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/minor-mlb-transactions-121417-2.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 12/14/17|last=Polishuk|first=Mark|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=December 15, 2017}} He was designated for assignment on April 20, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/04/rays-designate-brandon-snyder-for-assignment.html|title=Rays Designate Brandon Snyder For Assignment|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018}} He elected free agency on October 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/10/players-electing-free-agency.html|title=Players Electing Free Agency|work=MLB Trade Rumors|first=Jeff|last=Todd|date=October 8, 2018|access-date=October 9, 2018}}

=Washington Nationals (second stint)=

On January 8, 2019, Snyder signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. In 117 games for the Triple–A Fresno Grizzlies, he batted .257/.314/.537 with 31 home runs and 80 RBI. Snyder elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019}}

On February 12, 2020, it was announced that Snyder had re–signed with the Nationals on a new minor league contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.masnsports.com/nationals-pastime/2020/02/nats-invite-22-non-roster-players-to-big-league-camp.html |title=Nats invite 22 non-roster players to big league camp |author=Mark Zuckerman |date=February 12, 2020 |publisher=MASN |work=www.nasnsports.com |access-date=February 12, 2020}} He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=March 3, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Snyder once again re-signed with the organization on a minor league contract on November 2, 2020.

After several months playing for the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings, Snyder was added to the Nationals' "taxi squad" during a series in Milwaukee in August 2021, shifting into a player-coach role as the team's bullpen catcher, after Brett Austin took a job coaching at North Carolina State University and Henry Blanco temporarily shifted from bullpen coach to bench coach.{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/even-nationals-field-staff-not-181329930.html|first=Bijan|last=Todd|agency=Yahoo! Sports|date=August 22, 2021|accessdate=August 23, 2021|title=Even the Nationals' on-field staff is not immune from role changes|archive-date=August 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824041641/https://sports.yahoo.com/even-nationals-field-staff-not-181329930.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.federalbaseball.com/2021/8/23/22636837/washington-nationals-news-davey-martinez-on-brandon-snyder-player-coach-bullpen-moves-carter-kieboom|agency=Federal Baseball|title=Washington Nationals news & notes: Davey Martinez on Brandon Snyder player/coach; bullpen moves; Carter Kieboom...|first=Patrick|last=Reddington|date=August 23, 2021|accessdate=August 23, 2021}} Snyder officially announced his retirement as a player on October 2, 2021, while continuing to serve as the Nationals' bullpen catcher.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/10/03/brandon-snyder-nationals-retires/|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Nationals' Brandon Snyder, a minor league journeyman, retires after 17 years in pro baseball|first=Jesse|last=Dougherty|date=October 3, 2021|accessdate=October 2, 2021}}

Personal life

Snyder is the son of former major league pitcher Brian Snyder. Snyder's first cousin, Madison Younginer, was also a professional baseball player.{{Cite web |last=Clair |first=Michael |date=2016-08-08 |title=Brandon Snyder was released by the Braves ... for his cousin |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/brandon-snyder-was-released-for-his-cousin-madison-younginer-c194295636 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}