Tampa Bay Devil Rays Claim Outfielder Chris Snelling

10/25/2007, ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays claimed Australian outfielder Chris Snelling off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. To clear room on the roster, the club released right-handed pitcher Jay Witasick.

Chris Snelling 25, batted a combined .246 with one home run and seven RBI in 30 games last season for the Washington Nationals and Athletics before suffering a season-ending left knee injury on May 10 (underwent surgery on July 3). He was the Nationals' Opening Day leftfielder and hit .204 in 24 games before being traded to the A's on May 2 for outfielder Ryan Langerhans. He started each of his first six games with Oakland at the time of the injury.

Snelling spent his first eight professional seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization, reaching the major leagues in 2002 at age 20. Injuries have limited him to 582 professional games over nine seasons, including 89 at the major league level, where he holds a career average of .240 with six home runs, 19 RBI and a .357 on-base percentage. That includes a .375 career mark at Tropicana Field (6-for-16) with a home run. He owns a career average of .311 in the minor leagues, hitting .300 or better each of his first seven seasons.

He would be the third Australian native to play for the Rays joining current right-handed pitcher Grant Balfour and left-handed pitcher Damian Moss (2004). He represented the Aussies in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Source: MLB

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