University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Isaac Polanski/Chicago Dogs
Following Wild Year, Snelten Eyes Return to MLB
9/19/2019 12:26:00 PM | Baseball
Less than 17 months removed from his Major League debut with the San Francisco Giants, D.J. Snelten stood on the mound at Impact Field in Rosemont, Ill., putting the finishing touches on his sixth straight quality start. It was Aug. 29 and Snelten, now a member of the American Association's Chicago Dogs, would soon conclude a 2019 campaign by dominating to the tune of a 1.24 ERA across those final six appearances.
All things considered, it was an outstanding year for the former Gopher southpaw, who was drafted by the Giants in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB draft. Snelten started 20 games for the Dogs this past season, finishing 7-3 with a 3.11 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings of work.
"The last 16 months, it's funny how things change so quickly," said Snelten, speaking of the drastic change in scenery from 2018 to 2019. "I went from a Major League uniform to being in school and trying to find a job. Baseball is a very volatile game and it's not about what you've done in the past, it's about what you're doing right now."
Following the conclusion of the Dogs' season, Snelten returned to Minneapolis this fall to complete his sport management degree at the University of Minnesota.
"I never want to risk my education," said Snelten. "The goal is to get signed again, but I also want to make sure I'm preparing for life."
As he sits through lectures in classes such as Business Ethics and Values and Organizational Management of Sport, Snelten is also training for another chance at the big leagues. His most recent pursuit marks yet another phase in a journey that began all the way back in 2013, when the Ingleside, Ill. native was drafted and elected to forgo his senior year at the U.
Snelten recalls draft day 2013 as one of the longest of his life. Since he was on the radar for multiple teams, he would hear one thing one minute and then another the next. Finally, the Minnesota Twins called and informed Snelten they would be selecting him with their pick in the ninth round if he was still on the board. However, Snelten's fate would see one more twist before the day's end, as San Francisco ultimately changed his destiny and called his name instead with pick no. 282.
Thereafter, Snelten spent parts of six seasons in the Giants' farm system. His time in the Minor Leagues included stops in Arizona, Oregon, Georgia, California and Virginia. Even with the seemingly constant changes in scenery, Snelten felt he was properly equipped to handle the demands of professional baseball.
"The first couple years were an affirmation that I made the right decision coming to Minnesota," said Snelten.
"They could not have prepared me better for what life was like as a professional baseball player. They had me focusing on the mental aspects of the game all the time. I just didn't realize how prevalent it was going to be until I saw that everyone in professional baseball had the same talent level as me, but they didn't have the mental capacity to overcome adversity."
When Snelten's call to the bigs eventually came on April 28, 2018, it occurred in a much different fashion. This experience would be nothing like his Minor League journey. Rather, it would happen in a blur.
"I got the call at 3:30, was in San Francisco by 5:30 and within an hour and a half I was already in the game against the Dodgers," said Snelten. "I've dreamt about this my entire life and you get out there and the first thing you realize is it's the same game."
In his big league debut, Snelten rose to the occasion, firing 1 1/3 innings of shutout baseball against the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that would go on the win the National League pennant. He surrendered just one hit and struck out the first batter of his MLB career.
Then, exactly one month after receiving the call to the show, the Giants designated Snelten for assignment. He wound up being claimed by the Baltimore Orioles, who optioned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides.
"I loved every minute of being in the Giants organization," said Snelten. "They were a class act. It was the start of my journey. It's something I'll always be thankful for."
When the start of Spring Training rolled around in February 2019, Snelten was ready to compete for another shot. Still, his path would see one last change in direction, as the Orioles released the left-hander shortly thereafter on March 25. Looking back, this may have been a blessing in disguise for Snelten, who latched on with the Chicago Dogs and reinvigorated his career with a superb bounce-back campaign.
"I think it was probably the first time in my professional career where I truly started to feel doubt in what I was doing," said Snelten. "I think the biggest lesson I can take away from what happened last year is that when something is wrong, you need to communicate it with the people that are trying to work with you. Because if not, they're just going to assume that you don't have it anymore."
Truth be told, Snelten was battling a hidden issue with his shoulder throughout most of his struggles with the Giants and Orioles. Now healthy and equipped with a newfound sense of perspective, the former Major Leaguer is aiming to climb the ladder to the top once again. Throughout the fall, Snelten's goal is twofold: number one, complete a semester's worth of senior credits at Minnesota. Number two, continue to train and improve as a means of getting picked up by an MLB organization.
"Going into the next 12 months, it's not trying to change my approach, rather trying to refine it," said Snelten. "Making sure that I hit the ground running in February or March if I get signed and that I'm not only prepared to go out and throw, but to excel out on the mound and compete for a real opportunity to play back at the Major League level."
It has been nearly six and a half years since Snelten last threw a pitch in a Gopher uniform and well over a year since he last stepped on a Major League mound. Despite these facts, Snelten remains committed to being a big league pitcher. This mindset of refusing to back down was initiated by father and later drilled into him by the coaching staff at Minnesota.
"Whatever seems to work for you, throw with 100% conviction," said Snelten. "No matter what you do in life, you need to have conviction. It's a core definition of a leader and if you know what you're doing and you have absolute resolve in it, ultimately more times than not you're going to be successful."
For the select few who are brave and dedicated enough to pursue baseball as a profession, an undying desire to thrive among the best players in the world is demanded. When the Pro Alumni Game returns to Siebert Field on Friday, Sept. 27, a large collection of such individuals will be in attendance. Having this type of presence around throughout his days as a Gopher was as important as anything else that shaped Snelten's career.
"It gives you an idea what the history of the Gopher program is like. You understand that you have a right to play baseball, but it's a privilege to play at the U," said Snelten. When you get to see all these guys that came through and what they're doing with their lives now or where they're playing right now, it's cool because you get to finally see the potential that lies ahead of you."
Snelten's name is now etched in alongside the most elite to ever don a Minnesota Baseball uniform. 35 former Gophers have made it to the Major Leagues, and he is one of them. Although there is unfinished business for Snelten at the game's highest level, the past 16 months of his life are worthy of praise alone – something any Gopher aspiring to make it to the MLB would be wise to take note of.
"Make sure that whatever your core values are that you've created at the University of Minnesota, don't deviate from those," said Snelten. "Those are what got you there in the first place."
For Snelten, such values have him primed for success in whatever lies ahead, should that come between the white lines or not.
All things considered, it was an outstanding year for the former Gopher southpaw, who was drafted by the Giants in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB draft. Snelten started 20 games for the Dogs this past season, finishing 7-3 with a 3.11 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings of work.
"The last 16 months, it's funny how things change so quickly," said Snelten, speaking of the drastic change in scenery from 2018 to 2019. "I went from a Major League uniform to being in school and trying to find a job. Baseball is a very volatile game and it's not about what you've done in the past, it's about what you're doing right now."
Following the conclusion of the Dogs' season, Snelten returned to Minneapolis this fall to complete his sport management degree at the University of Minnesota.
"I never want to risk my education," said Snelten. "The goal is to get signed again, but I also want to make sure I'm preparing for life."
As he sits through lectures in classes such as Business Ethics and Values and Organizational Management of Sport, Snelten is also training for another chance at the big leagues. His most recent pursuit marks yet another phase in a journey that began all the way back in 2013, when the Ingleside, Ill. native was drafted and elected to forgo his senior year at the U.
Snelten recalls draft day 2013 as one of the longest of his life. Since he was on the radar for multiple teams, he would hear one thing one minute and then another the next. Finally, the Minnesota Twins called and informed Snelten they would be selecting him with their pick in the ninth round if he was still on the board. However, Snelten's fate would see one more twist before the day's end, as San Francisco ultimately changed his destiny and called his name instead with pick no. 282.
Thereafter, Snelten spent parts of six seasons in the Giants' farm system. His time in the Minor Leagues included stops in Arizona, Oregon, Georgia, California and Virginia. Even with the seemingly constant changes in scenery, Snelten felt he was properly equipped to handle the demands of professional baseball.
"The first couple years were an affirmation that I made the right decision coming to Minnesota," said Snelten.
"They could not have prepared me better for what life was like as a professional baseball player. They had me focusing on the mental aspects of the game all the time. I just didn't realize how prevalent it was going to be until I saw that everyone in professional baseball had the same talent level as me, but they didn't have the mental capacity to overcome adversity."
When Snelten's call to the bigs eventually came on April 28, 2018, it occurred in a much different fashion. This experience would be nothing like his Minor League journey. Rather, it would happen in a blur.
"I got the call at 3:30, was in San Francisco by 5:30 and within an hour and a half I was already in the game against the Dodgers," said Snelten. "I've dreamt about this my entire life and you get out there and the first thing you realize is it's the same game."
In his big league debut, Snelten rose to the occasion, firing 1 1/3 innings of shutout baseball against the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that would go on the win the National League pennant. He surrendered just one hit and struck out the first batter of his MLB career.
Then, exactly one month after receiving the call to the show, the Giants designated Snelten for assignment. He wound up being claimed by the Baltimore Orioles, who optioned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides.
"I loved every minute of being in the Giants organization," said Snelten. "They were a class act. It was the start of my journey. It's something I'll always be thankful for."
When the start of Spring Training rolled around in February 2019, Snelten was ready to compete for another shot. Still, his path would see one last change in direction, as the Orioles released the left-hander shortly thereafter on March 25. Looking back, this may have been a blessing in disguise for Snelten, who latched on with the Chicago Dogs and reinvigorated his career with a superb bounce-back campaign.
"I think it was probably the first time in my professional career where I truly started to feel doubt in what I was doing," said Snelten. "I think the biggest lesson I can take away from what happened last year is that when something is wrong, you need to communicate it with the people that are trying to work with you. Because if not, they're just going to assume that you don't have it anymore."
Truth be told, Snelten was battling a hidden issue with his shoulder throughout most of his struggles with the Giants and Orioles. Now healthy and equipped with a newfound sense of perspective, the former Major Leaguer is aiming to climb the ladder to the top once again. Throughout the fall, Snelten's goal is twofold: number one, complete a semester's worth of senior credits at Minnesota. Number two, continue to train and improve as a means of getting picked up by an MLB organization.
"Going into the next 12 months, it's not trying to change my approach, rather trying to refine it," said Snelten. "Making sure that I hit the ground running in February or March if I get signed and that I'm not only prepared to go out and throw, but to excel out on the mound and compete for a real opportunity to play back at the Major League level."
It has been nearly six and a half years since Snelten last threw a pitch in a Gopher uniform and well over a year since he last stepped on a Major League mound. Despite these facts, Snelten remains committed to being a big league pitcher. This mindset of refusing to back down was initiated by father and later drilled into him by the coaching staff at Minnesota.
"Whatever seems to work for you, throw with 100% conviction," said Snelten. "No matter what you do in life, you need to have conviction. It's a core definition of a leader and if you know what you're doing and you have absolute resolve in it, ultimately more times than not you're going to be successful."
For the select few who are brave and dedicated enough to pursue baseball as a profession, an undying desire to thrive among the best players in the world is demanded. When the Pro Alumni Game returns to Siebert Field on Friday, Sept. 27, a large collection of such individuals will be in attendance. Having this type of presence around throughout his days as a Gopher was as important as anything else that shaped Snelten's career.
"It gives you an idea what the history of the Gopher program is like. You understand that you have a right to play baseball, but it's a privilege to play at the U," said Snelten. When you get to see all these guys that came through and what they're doing with their lives now or where they're playing right now, it's cool because you get to finally see the potential that lies ahead of you."
Snelten's name is now etched in alongside the most elite to ever don a Minnesota Baseball uniform. 35 former Gophers have made it to the Major Leagues, and he is one of them. Although there is unfinished business for Snelten at the game's highest level, the past 16 months of his life are worthy of praise alone – something any Gopher aspiring to make it to the MLB would be wise to take note of.
"Make sure that whatever your core values are that you've created at the University of Minnesota, don't deviate from those," said Snelten. "Those are what got you there in the first place."
For Snelten, such values have him primed for success in whatever lies ahead, should that come between the white lines or not.
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