Beloit Snappers

Beloit Snappers Founded in 1982 Beloit, Wisconsin
Team Logo Cap Insignia
Class-level
Low-A
Minor league affiliations
Midwest League Western Division
Major league affiliations
Minnesota Twins (2005–Present) Milwaukee Brewers (1982–2004)
Name
Beloit Snappers (1995–Present) Beloit Brewers (1982–1994)
Ballpark
Harry C. Pohlman Field
Minor league titles
League titles	1995
Division titles
Owner(s)/Operated by: Beloit Professional Baseball Assoc.
Manager: Nelson Prada
General Manager: Matthew Bosen

The Beloit Snappers are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, that plays in the Midwest League.

Beloit joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise in 1982. They were a Milwaukee Brewers farm team from its beginning through 2004; they switched to the Twins' farm system for the 2005 season. They adopted the Snappers nickname in 1995 after using the parent team's nickname for its first 13 seasons. The name derives from the snapping turtle, because Beloit was formerly known as Turtle Village and there is still a Turtle Creek and a town of Turtle. All of these are named for a turtle-shaped Indian mound on the campus of Beloit College.

Their home park is Harry C. Pohlman Field at Telfer Park, built in time for the 1982 season. The franchise attendance record of 10,127 was set in 1986.

The 2003 team included two sons of former major league players. Prince Fielder, the son of former American League home run champion Cecil Fielder and Tony Gwynn, Jr., son of Tony Gwynn. Future major leaguer Danny Valencia played for the 2007 team.

Another noted Major Leaguer, Jim Morris of The Rookie fame played for the Beloit Brewers when he came out of college in the 1980s. Other former Snappers players who moved on to Major League ball include Greg Vaughn, Geoff Jenkins, Jeff D'Amico, Ron Belliard and Ben Sheets. Minnesota Twins players that have come through include Matt Garza and Kevin Slowey.

Because the Milwaukee Brewers withdrew their support due to the lack of a new stadium, efforts are underway to build one similar to facilities used by the Rockford RiverHawks or the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. One possible location near Janesville could involve renaming the team to reflect a broader Rock County audience. A Dubuque group is said to be interested as well.

Roster

Beloit Snappers roster
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 35 A. J. Achter 41 Madison Boer 15 Bart Carter 31 Clint Dempster 22 Nelvin Fuentes 30 Steven Gruver -- Cole Nelson 20 Ryan O'Rourke 19 Tim Shibuya 24 Matthew Summers 18 Matthew Tomshaw 37 Michael Tonkin 40 Jason Wheeler 38 Corey Williams		Catchers 26 Kyle Knudson 21 Matthew Koch 27 Jairo Rodriguez Infielders  7 Adam Bryant 11 Tyler Grimes  1 Adam Pettersen 32 Rory Rhodes 33 Miguel Sano Outfielders 17 Jonathan Goncalves 23 Wang-Wei Lin  5 Daniel Ortiz 39 Nate Roberts  9 Eddie Rosario  2 JaDamion Williams		Manager 26 Nelson Prada Coaches 25 Gary Lucas (pitching)  8 Tommy Watkins (hitting) 7-day disabled list * On Minnesota Twins 40-man roster ∞ Reserve list § Suspended list ‡ Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated April 8, 2012 Transactions → More MiLB rosters → Minnesota Twins minor league players

Notable alumni

Craig Breslow

Chris Parmelee with the Snappers in 2008

• Mike Adams
• Chris Barnwell
• Chris Bosio
• Craig Breslow
• Greg Brock
• Tom Candiotti
• Chris Capuano
• Alexi Casilla
• Jason Childers
• Matt Childers
• Jeff Cirillo
• Carlos Corporan
• Jeff D'Amico
• Tim Dillard
• Brian Drahman
• Brian Duensing
• Cal Eldred
• Dana Eveland
• Prince Fielder
• Tim Fortugno
• Chad Fox
• Armando Gabino
• Yovani Gallardo
• Matt Garza
• Tony Gwynn, Jr.
• Bill Hall
• Teddy Higuera
• Mike Ignasiak
• Hernan Iribarren
• John Jaha
• Geoff Jenkins
• Bobby Jones
• Mark Kiefer
• Mike Kinkade
• Danny Klassen
• Dave Krynzel
• Manny Parra
• Trevor Plouffe
• B.J. Surhoff
• Ty Van Burkleo
• Greg Vaughn
• Carlos Villanueva
• Rickie Weeks