Signed out of a baseball showcase in Yuma, pitcher Andrew Snowdon made his professional debut with the Tucson Toros.
Now he's an all-star.
Snowdon joins closer Emiliano Fruto, left fielder Lino Garcia and shortstop Ryan Priddy as the Toros' Golden Baseball League all-stars. Tucson hosts the all-star game between the GBL and the independent Northern League on July14 at Hi Corbett Field.
Among the Toros' four selections, Snowdon, 24, is the lone rookie. After the Toros drafted him out of the Arizona Winter League in February in Yuma, the right-handed reliever has struck out 32 in 32 2/3 innings and posted a 2.75 ERA, eighth-lowest in the GBL entering Monday's games.
"He's getting better and better," manager Tim Johnson said before the Toros' 10-2 loss to Yuma on Monday. "It's a big honor for a young guy, a rookie to make the all-star team."
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Snowdon, a native of Renton, Wash., pitched in high school, but he was a catcher for most of his college career, which included two years apiece at Bellevue Community College and Central Washington. During Snowdon's senior year at Central, the coaches let him try pitching again, and he threw 20 innings. He earned first-team all-conference honors as a catcher and second-team honors as a pitcher.
After his college eligibility ended in 2009 at Central, Snowdon wasn't drafted by a major-league organization. He said he was encouraged to focus on one position, and pitching could be the best route.
Snowdon helped coach the school's catchers and, via the Internet, he learned about the Arizona Winter League, an instructional showcase associated with the GBL held January and February in Yuma. Teams offered professional contracts to 55 players in the league, and the Toros drafted Snowdon with the eighth overall pick.
Johnson liked how aggressively Snowdon pitched with his low-90s fastball. He also throws a curveball, change-up and slider.
"He just needed an opportunity to show what he could do," Johnson said.
Snowdon earned his first professional victory June 3 when he threw a scoreless inning against the Victoria Seals.
"I'm real happy with everything," said Snowdon, who is 2-1. "TJ has given me a shot to go on as far as I can take it."
The Toros' other first-time all-star is shortstop Priddy, who is batting .319 with a team-high six home runs in 40 games.
"It's something I always wanted to do," Priddy said. "It is very exciting."
As for the other all-stars, Garcia is batting .374 in 38 games, and Fruto has a 1.37 ERA with six saves.
Johnson said he was disappointed first baseman Cristobal Santana, who is hitting .355 in 37 games, didn't receive all-star recognition. Managers voted on the all-stars.
"He's the best first baseman defensively, great offensively," Johnson said. "It's too bad."
Inside pitch
• The Toros finished with three hits in their 10-2 loss to Yuma. Yuma starter Zach Cline allowed two hits and an unearned run in seven innings. The Scorpions had 17 hits.
• Santana has been out of the lineup since Saturday after a pitch hit him in the wrist Friday. He said it isn't broken, and he took some swings in the batting cage Monday. Johnson said he hopes Santana can be back in a couple of days. Jim Rushford played first base.
• Utility player Adam Courcha played his first game at catcher for the Toros. Johnson said he wanted to see the Australia native at the position, which is possibly his best position.
• Pitcher Vince Davis was ejected in the third inning after he shared words with the home plate umpire when he was called out on strikes as a pinch hitter.
• Chico female knuckleball pitcher Eri Yoshida is making the trip to Tucson with the Outlaws, who play a three-game series against Tucson starting today. It is unclear if she will pitch during the series. She didn't pitch during Chico's last trip to Tucson.
TODAY
• Who: Chico at Toros
• Where: Hi Corbett Field
• When: 7 p.m.
• Radio: 1450-AM
