D. J. Snelten

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = D. J. Snelten

|image = D.J. Snelten (41922174472) (Cropped).jpg

|width = 265px

|caption = Snelten with the San Francisco Giants in 2018

|team = Chicago White Sox

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|5|29}}

|birth_place = Ingleside, Illinois, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 28

|debutyear = 2018

|debutteam = San Francisco Giants

|statyear = 2018 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–0

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 10.38

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 4

|teams =

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2018}})

}}

Donald Marek Snelten (born May 29, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants.

Career

=Amateur=

Snelten attended Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa, Illinois.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100416/sports/304169683/|title=Persistence helps Lakes' Snelten maintain baseball relationship|first=Patricia Babcock|last=McGraw|date=16 April 2010|publisher=}} He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 30th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and played college baseball at the University of Minnesota.{{cite web|url=http://prev.dailyherald.com/story/?id=335676|title=The 'right' thing for Lakes' Snelten: signing with Gophers -- Daily Herald|website=prev.dailyherald.com}} In 2011, he briefly played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=148929 |title=DJ Snelten - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |date= |access-date=January 9, 2020}} After his junior season, he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB Draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/u-s-snelten-taken-in-ninth-round-by-san-francisco/210652981/|title=U's Snelten taken in ninth round by San Francisco|website=Star Tribune|publisher=}}

=San Francisco Giants=

Snelten signed and spent 2013 with the AZL Giants, going 3–1 with a 1.57 ERA in 34.1 innings. He spent 2014 with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and Augusta Greenjackets, posting a combined 4–1 record and 2.56 ERA in 29 relief appearances, and 2015 with the San Jose Giants and Augusta, pitching to a combined 5–11 record and 3.44 ERA in 23 total starts between the two teams. In 2016, he pitched for San Jose, going 4–7 with a 4.11 ERA in 31 games (13 starts), and in 2017, he played for the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Sacramento River Cats where he went 8–1 with a 2.20 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 51 appearances out of the bullpen.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=592769#/career/R/pitching/2017/ALL|title=D.J. Snelten Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=June 1, 2018}} After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/csn/giants/Giants__Snelten_shining_in_Arizona_Fall_League__Beede_makes_mechanics_change-454551953.html|title=Giants' Snelten Shining in Arizona Fall League, Beede Makes Mechanics Change|publisher=}} The Giants added him to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-add-Beede-three-others-to-40-man-roster-12372947.php|title=Giants add Beede, three others to 40-man roster; A's DFA Brugman|date=21 November 2017|publisher=}}

Snelten began 2018 with Sacramento. On April 28, 2018, the Giants called up Snelten ahead of a double-header and he made his major league debut in the second game.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-d-j-snelten-recalled-from-minors/|title=Giants' D.J. Snelten: Recalled from minors|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=2018-04-29|language=en}} He was optioned back to Sacramento on May 8 and designated for assignment on May 28.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2018/5/28/17403230/roster-remix-d-j-snelten-dfad-to-make-room-for-dereck-rodriguez|title = Roster Remix: D.J. Snelten DFA'd to make room for Dereck Rodriguez|date = 28 May 2018}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On June 4, 2018, Snelten was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.{{Cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-snelten-20180604-story.html|title = Orioles claim lefty D.J. Snelten off waivers from Giants, option him to Triple-A Norfolk}} On June 15, he was designated for assignment by Baltimore following the promotion of Corban Joseph.{{Cite web|title=Orioles call up Corban Joseph, brother of Caleb|url=https://www.camdenchat.com/platform/amp/2018/6/15/17469028/orioles-news-richard-bleier-corban-joseph-tanner-scott|access-date=December 21, 2023|website=camdenchat.com|language=en}} The next day, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Norfolk Tides.{{Cite web|title=Orioles Outright D.J. Snelten|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/06/orioles-outright-d-j-snelten.html|access-date=December 21, 2023|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} In 22 games for Norfolk, Snelten recorded a 5.52 ERA with 30 strikeouts across {{fraction|29|1|3}} innings pitched. On March 25, 2019, Snelten was released by the Orioles organization.{{Cite web|title=D.J. Snelten: Cut loose by Baltimore|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/d-j-snelten-cut-loose-by-baltimore/|access-date=December 21, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Chicago Dogs=

On April 15, 2019, Snelten signed with the Chicago Dogs of the independent American Association.

= Tampa Bay Rays =

On December 29, 2019, Snelten signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, getting exposure after throwing 99 mph in viral videos seen on Rob Friedman's FlatGround Twitter account.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/DJSnelten/status/1211341593191563265|title=Incredibly excited to say that I'm continuing my career with @RaysBaseball !! First, special shoutouts to @primeathletics1 for always supporting me, @SanzeriBaseball for helping me w/ leg mechanics, @PitchingNinja for helping me be seen again, my family & Lexi for supporting me!pic.twitter.com/ksJD45GVe0|last=Snelten|first=D. J.|date=2019-12-29|website=@DJSnelten|language=en|access-date=2019-12-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/former-giants-prospect-dj-snelten-using-social-media-make-comeback|title=Ex-Giants prospect using social media to make comeback|date=2019-11-26|website=NBCS Bay Area|access-date=2019-12-30}} Snelten 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=August 1, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 17, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Chicago Cubs=

On November 19, 2020, Snelten signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. However, he did not appear in a game for the organization during the 2021 or 2022 seasons.

=New York Yankees=

On August 5, 2022, Snelten signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees.https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/08/yankees-sign-30-year-old-lefty-to-minor-league-contract.html He did not appear in a game for the Yankees organization in 2022.

In 2023, Snelten played in 30 games for the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, struggling to a 7.50 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 2 saves in 36.0 innings of work. On July 24, 2023, Snelten was released by New York.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-07-24

=Chicago Dogs (second stint)=

On July 31, 2023, Snelten signed with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=2023 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/transactions/|access-date=August 1, 2023|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}} In 14 games for the Dogs, Snelten pitched to a 3.33 ERA with 40 strikeouts in {{fraction|24|1|3}} innings of work. In September 2023, Snelten was loaned to the AAPB's Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to participate in the 2023 Baseball Champions League Americas, which the RedHawks won.{{cite web|url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-baseball-champions-league-americas/teams/27679|title=Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 2023 Baseball Champions League roster|access-date=April 8, 2025}}

=Sultanes de Monterrey=

On December 12, 2023, Snelten signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels.{{Cite web|title=Angels' D.J. Snelten: Reaches deal with Angels|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/angels-d-j-snelten-reaches-deal-with-angels/amp/|access-date=December 19, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} However, on April 10, 2024, Snelten signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 10 de abril de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-10-de-abril-de-2024|access-date=April 14, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} In 15 games for Monterrey, he recorded a 5.23 ERA with 15 strikeouts across {{fraction|10|1|3}} innings pitched. Snelten was released by the Sultanes on June 3.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 3 de junio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-3-de-junio-de-2024|access-date=June 4, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}

=Guerreros de Oaxaca=

On June 15, 2024, Snelten signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 15 de junio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-15-de-junio-de-2024|access-date=June 16, 2024|website=milb.com|language=es}} In 10 relief appearances, he posted a 3.24 ERA and 12 strikeouts over {{fraction|8|1|3}} innings. Snelten was released by Oaxaca on July 5.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 5 de julio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-5-de-julio-de-2024|access-date=July 6, 2024|website=milb.com|language=es}}