THE INDIANS’ REACTION : Snyder Leaves Big-League Impression on Team Before Taking a Minor Detour

TUCSON, Ariz. —  Cory Snyder’s first spring training stay in the Cleveland Indians’ major league camp came up short, as did his statistics while there. He played in 10 games and had 4 hits in 22 at-bats for a .182 average in exhibition games.

But he made some long-lasting impressions on members of the team. Here are some of those:

Outfielder Brett Butler: “When I look at Cory, I see a little bit of me in him. I went through that with the Atlanta Braves. Guys like Murph (Dale Murphy), (Chris) Chambliss and (Jerry) Royster helped me through it. So I thought it was my obligation to help Cory.

“This guy is a franchise player. He can carry a club on his shoulders. He can hit to all fields. He’s going to be in the big leagues.

“You’ve got to have his bat in there. He’s just like a Bob Horner (Atlanta’s third baseman). The difference is, he’s a good fielder too.

“But he’s green. He never got sent down before. He’s always been the bigwig on every club.

“He showed he was pressing a little bit. We all went through that. I did. Everybody did in that situation. You think nobody has ever been as nervous as you are. Everybody was.

“You don’t want him to start the season on the major league club, get depressed because he has to go down and never come back. It could have a tumbling effect and maybe he’s lost forever. He’s hitting now, but wait until they start curving him 3-1, or 2-1.

“Instead, let him go down there to Double A for a month, tear it up, then go to Triple A, tear that up, then come up here and be here the rest of his career.

“So guys helped me and I helped Cory and maybe Cory’s going to help that kid coming up after him. That’s what it’s all about. Major leagues, minor leagues, it doesn’t matter. We are all one family.”

Tony Bernazard, Snyder’s chief rival for second base: “He’s got good talent, a great arm and great power.

“I helped him at second base because I always like to help anybody. It’s hard to come to the big leagues with no pro experience, especially at a new position.

“I don’t know how he’s going to do, but only time will tell if they made the right decision or not by sending him down.”

Cleveland Manager Pat Corrales: “He’s head and shoulders the best prospect in the league. He’s going to be a fine player for the Cleveland Indians.

“In the instructional league, I saw him hit one home run to right-center and one to left in the same game. He uses the whole field.

“He can play. I venture to say that if I told him, here’s a catchers glove, go behind the plate--and let me add I won’t do that, but he’s the kind of guy--if he went back there, he’d do a good job.

“Give him a good year under his belt, he’ll be ready.”