“You never want to take a step backwards,” said the 19-year-old catcher from Centerville, Va. “Right now this is the best thing for me.” Snyder went on the disabled list with a sore left shoulder early in the season with Single-A Delmarva.

“My shoulder is doing great. It is finally starting to be 100 percent, to where I am not thinking about it,” Snyder said. The young catcher also suffered soreness in his right (throwing) shoulder toward the end of last season.

Snyder finished 2005 in Aberdeen, batting .393 in eight games. Aberdeen, which started its season Tuesday at Hudson Valley, opens its home schedule Friday with Brooklyn.

After Snyder got off the disabled list earlier this season, his batting average slipped to .194 in 144 at bats. “A lot of guys go all the way to the big leagues and when they struggle [there] they never get it back,” Snyder said. “If I learn to struggle, then when I get my chance to play in the big leagues I will know what to do.”

IronBirds manager Andy Etchebarren said that Snyder, whose father pitched in the major leagues, will be the everyday catcher in Aberdeen as long as his arm is not sore; he could also be a designated hitter.