Robby Snelling discusses velocity bump, new slider and Marlins trade

JUPITER, FL—Before deciding to pursue a baseball career, Robby Snelling was highly regarded as a football player and received 23 offers to play in college. As the 21-year-old left-hander prepares for his third season as a pro in a different spot, he still brings a "bulldog mentality" to the mound with him and believes that contributes to his success.

"Some people say sometimes you kind of have to learn to tone it back a little bit, kind of become more of a pitcher with a little more feel and finesse on the mound," Snelling told Fish On First. "But there definitely still are some times where that side can come out. I think the mental stuff that (football) taught me playing is helping me a lot more than what I can imagine if I never played."

Snelling was the main piece the Marlins received in the trade that sent Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing to the San Diego Padres, coming to Miami with fellow prospects Adam Mazur, Graham Pauley and Jay Beshears. Prior to the Scott/Hoeing trade, they also traded Luis Arraez to the Padres in exchange for Dillon Head, Jakob Marsee, Nathan Martorella and Woo-Suk Go, all names who Snelling was familiar with.

"Makes it a lot easier for sure. That being my first time being traded and hopefully my only time being traded, I can't imagine how tough it would have been if it was just me and getting thrusted into an organization that I had no idea about, but being able to kind of sift through it with guys that I had prior knowledge of and prior relationships with makes it an easier battle."

One pitcher that Snelling compares himself to is New York Yankees lefty Carlos Rodón. "Physical guy on the mound and he's been a pretty successful pitcher," said Snelling.

Rodón's fastball averaged 95.4 miles per hour in 2024, while Snelling saw his velocity drop into the low 90s, which may have made the Padres more willing to trade him. However, in his first spring training appearance against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie on Sunday, Snelling's fastball averaged 95.7 mph and topped out at 96.7, a velo that he never reached last season.

"It's nice to be able to come in off of a fresh offseason," Snelling told Fish On First. "It was the start of a game, so you got pretty amped up, but as this offseason has been going on, my arm's been feeling pretty good. Hopefully that's velocity that I can maintain and keep going on with throughout the season."

This offseason, Snelling incorporated a slider into his arsenal. He threw it once on Sunday at 86 mph, splitting the difference between his fastball velo and curveball velo.

"They said that it's moving really well, matches up with my arsenal very well, plays off the fastball great," said Fish On First's number six prospect. "As long as they keep telling me that, I'm gonna keep throwing it so it can definitely get better than what it's at right now, but for just working on it and this being my first spring training throwing it, I'm pretty happy with it."

Snelling's appearance against the Mets only lasted seven pitches. He retired the side in order, getting Luis Torrens to line out, Jared Young to pop out and Donovan Walton to line out.

Assuming that Snelling will pitch again five days later, his next outing would be on Friday in Jupiter against the Atlanta Braves.

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