Appy notes: Snell making strides

Princeton Rays pitcher Blake Snell knows there will be scrutiny that comes with being a first-round Draft pick. But the 19-year-old left-hander figures he's self-analyzing each of his outings to the degree that it should help him improve.

"I feel I should be doing better," Snell said, pointing out that he's emphasizing working "more on locating pitches and using my offspeed pitches."

So he wants to build on some strong numbers, which include a 3-1 record and 2.04 ERA through eight starts, that have made him one of the Appalachian League's top pitchers. He's struck out 40 with 12 walks across 35 1/3 innings.

"He's still learning how to pitch," Princeton manager Michael Johns said. "You can tell he's going to get bigger and stronger."

Snell has been different almost from the get-go. He was drafted in June 2011, yet unlike many other draftees in the early rounds last year, he didn't spend time mulling an offer. He said he was intrigued by the opportunity to participate in the Tampa Bay organization's pitching-rich Minor League system.

"I was excited from Day 1 to be here," he said. "I'm happy with where I'm at. I already knew what I wanted to do. I'm happy I signed early and got going."

Snell, who gave up a scholarship to the University of Washington, said concentrating solely on pitching is best for him after also playing as an outfielder in high school. He entered the Tampa Bay organization familiar with outfielders Josh Sale and Drew Vettleson and infielder Ryan Brett -- all high Draft choices in 2010 from the Seattle area.

Snell pitched last year in the Gulf Coast League, so his natural progression was to move to the Princeton roster for this year.

"I just play," he said. "I don't think about it. I have fun."

Johns said at the outset of the season that Snell would be the type of pitcher who could make waves in the Appalachian League. So far that has been the case.

Snell said he hasn't tried to do anything other than stick to the basics.

"I just focus on who I'm going up against," he said. "Just learning the game from my coaches, my teammates and the hitters I face. I don't focus on anything but the glove and my catcher."

Yet Snell's stuff draws attention.

"He's already at 95 [mph]," Johns said. "It's a good fastball."

Snell said he's comfortable with his progression and he knows the Rays organization has a plan that works for pitchers.

"Just learning every outing as you go, as long as you know you're getting better," Snell said.

Boost for Cardinals: The Johnson City Cardinals, two-time defending league champions, need to climb into playoff position and Trevor Martin might be able to help. The seldom-used second baseman produced three of his four extra-base hits this season across a two-game span against the Kingsport Mets. That included a go-ahead RBI double. "It makes me a lot more confident," Martin told the Johnson City Press. "That's all this game is, confidence. I felt like I had something to prove."

Stoner hits stride: A three-hit outing against the Elizabethton Twins for Bristol White Sox catcher Zach Stoner marked half as many hits as he collected in his previous 13 professional games. "Big night," he told the Bristol Herald Courier. "I felt like I was seeing the ball well." It could be a sign that the 12th-round draftee from June is finding a groove because two games earlier he provided two hits.

He keeps going: Burlington Royals right-hander Jake Junis had the longest outing for any pitcher for the team with the league's best record when he lasted seven innings for a victory against the Princeton Rays. "I knew I had it in me," said Junis, who has notched victories in back-to-back starts. "After the first two innings I had were pretty rough, I wasn't thinking about [going that long]. ... I just kind of hit my stride and I made some pitches and the defense made some plays."