DEEP DIVE - IF Trey Snyder - 2B Ryne Sandberg - P Joander Suarez

 

Ernest Dove                                       @ernestdove

19 year old Mets prospect Trey Snyder has a 3 hit game today in Low A. Puts him on a 7 game on base streak. 2nd multi hit game during this span.

                A deep dive…

            Trey Snyder is a 19-year-old prospect in the New York Mets organization, currently playing in Low-A with the St. Lucie Mets.

Drafted in the 11th round of the 2024 MLB Draft from Iowa Western Community College, Snyder is a versatile infielder known for his defensive skills and speed. Standing at 6’1” and weighing 175 lbs, he bats and throws right-handed.

His professional debut came in 2024, and he’s shown early promise, particularly with a recent three-hit game on July 27, 2025, contributing to a seven-game on-base streak, including two multi-hit games during that span.

Snyder’s scouting report highlights a 60-grade arm and above-average speed, with a hit-over-power profile at the plate. His college performance included a .333/.433/.509 slash line, three home runs, 31 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases, showcasing his ability to make consistent contact and utilize his speed on the basepaths.

Defensively, he’s projected to play second or third base long-term, with shortstop experience in college. While his power is limited, his athleticism and defensive tools make him a high-floor prospect, though he’s considered a long shot for significant MLB impact due to his draft position and raw offensive game.

The baseball world is mourning the death of Hall of Fame second baseman and Cubs great Ryne Sandberg.

                Deep Dive…

Full Name: Ryne Dee Sandberg

Nickname: Ryno

Born: September 18, 1959, Spokane, Washington

Died: July 28, 2025, at age 65

Profession: Professional baseball player, coach, and manager 

Early Life

Background:      Born to Elizabeth (a nurse) and Derwent D. "Sandy" Sandberg (a mortician) in Spokane, Washington, Ryne was the youngest of four children. His parents named him after relief pitcher Ryne Duren.

High School:       A three-sport star at North Central High School, excelling in baseball, football, and basketball. He was named to Parade’s High School All-America football team as a quarterback and graduated in 1978. His high school baseball field is named "Ryne Sandberg Field," and his varsity numbers in football and baseball were retired.

College Opportunity:     Signed a letter of intent to play quarterback at Washington State University but chose a professional baseball career after being drafted.

Baseball Career

Draft and Minor Leagues:            Selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 1978 MLB Draft, persuaded by scouts Bill Harper and Wilbur "Moose" Johnson with a $20,000 signing bonus. Began his professional career at age 18 with the Helena Phillies (Rookie League), playing shortstop and hitting .311. Progressed through the Phillies’ system, playing for Spartanburg (Class A, 1979) and Reading (Class AA, 1980), where he hit .310 with 11 home runs.

MLB Debut and Trade:                  Made his MLB debut with the Phillies in 1981, playing 13 games.

Traded to the Chicago Cubs in January 1982 with Larry Bowa for Iván DeJesús, a move orchestrated by Cubs GM Dallas Green, who saw Sandberg’s potential.

Chicago Cubs (1982–1994, 1996–1997):

Position Switch:               Started as a third baseman in 1982 but moved to second base in 1983, where he excelled defensively, setting a major-league record with a .989 fielding percentage at second base upon retirement.

Breakout Season (1984):              Known for the "Sandberg Game" on June 23, 1984, against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he hit two game-tying home runs off Bruce Sutter in the 9th and 10th innings, leading the Cubs to a 12–11 victory. This nationally televised game elevated his stardom. He batted .314, with 19 home runs, 84 RBIs, 19 triples, 32 stolen bases, and 114 runs, earning the 1984 National League MVP Award.

Career Stats:       16 MLB seasons (15 with the Cubs), Sandberg hit .285, with 2,386 hits, 282 home runs, 1,061 RBIs, 344 stolen bases, and 1,318 runs. He held the record for most home runs by a second baseman (277) at retirement.

Accolades:          10 consecutive All-Star appearances (1984–1993)

9 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1983–1991)

7 Silver Slugger Awards (tied with Jose Altuve for most by a second baseman)

1984 NL MVP

Led the NL in home runs in 1990 (40, a career high) and runs scored multiple times.

Postseason:        Appeared in two NLCS (1984, 1989), batting .385 with a 1.098 OPS over 10 playoff games, though the Cubs lost both series.

Retirement:       Retired briefly in 1994 but returned for 1996–1997, retiring permanently after the 1997 season.

Hall of Fame:     Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 on his third ballot with 76.2% of votes.

Post-Playing Career

Coaching and Managing:              Coached in the minor leagues for the Cubs and Phillies organizations.

Served as the Phillies’ manager from 2013 to 2015 (119–159 record), resigning mid-201544

Cubs Ambassador:          Remained active with the Cubs, participating in events like the Cubs Convention and throwing ceremonial first pitches, including at the 2025 home opener.

Personal Life and Legacy

Family:                 Survived by his wife, Margaret, five children (Justin, Lindsey, Steven, BR, Adriane), and 11 grandchildren. His cousin, Jared Sandberg, also played in MLB.

Health and Passing:        Diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January 2024, declared cancer-free in August 2024, but the cancer returned and spread by December 2024. He passed away on July 28, 2025, at home, surrounded by family

Cubs Legacy:      Known as a quiet superstar with a relentless work ethic, Sandberg was a fan favorite in Chicago, where his No. 23 is retired. A statue honoring him was unveiled outside Wrigley Field on June 23, 2024. The Cubs wore a jersey patch commemorating him for the 2025 season5

Cultural Impact:               Sandberg’s consistency, power, speed, and defense redefined the second base position. His 1984 season, particularly the "Sandberg Game," made him a Chicago icon alongside figures like Michael Jordan and Walter Payton

Me?

Just a history lesson for the youngins here. Not too many people in this game are compared to both Jordan and Payton in the same sentence.

He will always be the second baseman every team wants planning for them.

Welcome Ryne. The boys are waiting for you on the field…

Ernest Dove                                       @ernestdove

The Rumble PoniesBB listed starter tonight is RHP Joander Suarez.  The 25 yr old has been one of my favorite under the radar prospects in Mets system for years.

2.01 ERA in July

.182 opp AVG this month

Has maintained a very low BB rate all year

Deserves another shot in AAA.

                A deep dive…

Joander David Suarez is a right-handed pitcher in the New York Mets organization, born on February 27, 2000, in Cumana, Venezuela. Standing at 6’3” and weighing approximately 250 lbs, he bats and throws right-handed.

Suarez signed with the Mets as an international free agent on May 14, 2018, for a $10,000 bonus during the 2017-2018 international signing period.

Career Overview

2018 (Dominican Summer League): Suarez began his professional career with the Mets’ Dominican Summer League teams, posting a 4.35 ERA over 20.2 innings across two teams.

2019 (GCL Mets): He moved to the U.S. and pitched for the Gulf Coast League Mets, recording an impressive 1.79 ERA over 40.1 innings, with 27 hits allowed, 16 walks, and 47 strikeouts.

2020: The minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, halting his progress.

2021-2022: Suarez underwent Tommy John surgery, which limited him to six starts at Low-A in 2021 and sidelined him until July 2022, impacting his development.

2023 (High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton):High-A: Suarez struggled initially with the Brooklyn Cyclones, posting a 5.08 ERA over 90.1 innings in 21 games (19 starts), with 83 hits, 45 walks, and 118 strikeouts (fifth-most in the South Atlantic League). His performance improved significantly after July, with a 3.43 ERA over 44.2 innings in nine games.

Double-A:           Promoted to Binghamton in late August, Suarez excelled, throwing 18 innings over three starts with a 0.00 ERA, allowing just 3 hits, 4 walks, and striking out 19. Notably, he threw a seven-inning no-hitter against the Hartford Yard Goats on September 7, 2023, in his second Double-A start.

2024 (Double-A Binghamton):                   Suarez continued to show promise, highlighted by a strong July with a 2.01 ERA over 22.1 innings in four starts, allowing 14 hits, 2 walks, and 20 strikeouts, with an opponents’ batting average of .182. He was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for August 28 – September 3, 2023, after throwing six no-hit innings in his Double-A debut.

2025 (Triple-A Syracuse):             Suarez’s first Triple-A appearance was rough, with a 24.00 ERA over 3 innings on May 2, 2025, allowing 8 hits, 8 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 2 home runs. This was a stark contrast to his 0.00 ERA in Double-A earlier that year.

 

Pitching Profile

Fastball:               Sits in the low-to-mid-90s, touching 95 MPH with rise due to its spin rate. Pre-Tommy John, it reached 93-94 MPH, showing no significant regression post-surgery.

Curveball:           A high-70s to low-80s pitch with a 12-6 drop, refined post-surgery into his best secondary offering, projected as an average pitch.

Changeup:          Mid-to-high-80s with late fade and tumble, also projected as an average pitch but still developing, with occasional inconsistency in command.

Mechanics:         Suarez has simple, repeatable mechanics, though his command has been shaky at times, particularly with his secondary pitches.

Notable Achievements

Threw a seven-inning no-hitter for Double-A Binghamton on September 7, 2023.

Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for August 28 – September 3, 2023

Recognized as part of the Mets’ all-minors team in 2023 for his strong finish, with a 4.24 ERA and 29.7% strikeout rate across High-A and Double-A.

Challenges and Outlook

Injury History:   Suarez’s Tommy John surgery sidelined him for significant time, and his 2021-2022 seasons were limited, impacting his development.

Command Issues:     His high walk totals (e.g., 45 in 90.1 innings at High-A in 2023) and inconsistent secondary pitches suggest control remains a work in progress.

Role Uncertainty:     Some scouts project him as a reliever due to his command issues and limited full-season experience, though his recent success as a starter keeps that path open.

Rule 5 Eligibility:     Suarez was Rule 5 Draft-eligible in 2023, increasing his visibility but also the risk of being selected by another team if not protected.

Current Status      As of July 2025, Suarez remains an active prospect in the Mets’ system, primarily with Double-A Binghamton, with a brief, challenging stint in Triple-A Syracuse. His strong July 2025 performance (2.01 ERA, low walk rate) suggests he’s regaining form and could earn another Triple-A opportunity. Posts on X highlight his under-the-radar status and potential for a higher role in the Mets’ system.