12-09-20-BDN-Snappers Align with Marlins
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12/10/2020 Snappers align with Marlins | Sports | beloitdailynews.com https://www.beloitdailynews.com/sports/snappers-align-with-marlins/article_bde60c7d-f0e0-5055- 86ea-e3d225b8988f.html FEATURED Snappers align with Marlins By JOSH FLICKINGER Co-Sports Editor Dec 9, 2020 Studer https://www.beloitdailynews.com/sports/snappers-align-with-marlins/article_bde60c7d-f0e0-5055-86ea-e3d225b8988f.html 1/4 12/10/2020 Snappers align with Marlins | Sports | beloitdailynews.com BELOIT—The Beloit Snappers had nearly everything a major league organization would look for: a brand new ballpark being built, new ownership with a proven track record and easy access to two major airports. However, Quint Studer knew that in baseball nothing is guaranteed. So when Studer, the new Snappers owner, received a call a few weeks back that Derek Jeter and the Miami Marlins wanted their Advanced-A afxliate to be in Beloit, he was elated. “With everything we had going for us, we were certainly conxdent,” Studer said. “But that doesn’t mean that you’re going to get what you are looking for. So when we got word, it was great. I called (former Snappers president) Dennis Conerton with the news. When Diane Hendricks and I met with MLB, we didn’t really have a big issue with afxliation. We wanted to be team players, and we’re happy we ended up with Miami.” https://www.beloitdailynews.com/sports/snappers-align-with-marlins/article_bde60c7d-f0e0-5055-86ea-e3d225b8988f.html 2/4 12/10/2020 Snappers align with Marlins | Sports | beloitdailynews.com The Snappers are still a member of the now 12-team Midwest League, formerly a low-A designation. They switched designations with the Carolina League and will now be one rung higher on the organizational food chain. They are just a step below Class AA, and Studer was extremely pleased the Marlins will also be the parent club of his AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos organization. “That’s going to allow us to do a lot of cross-promotional things,” Studer said. “I’m sure we’ll be giving away trips for fans in Beloit to go to Pensacola, and vice-versa. It’s great for the parent club, too, because that’s one less different ownership group they’ve got to deal with. Studer said aligning with a team in the geographic region was a nice idea in theory but was never a realistic option. “I saw some talk about getting with the Brewers, Cubs or White Sox, but that was never on the table for us,” Studer said. “For the most part, they were very happy with who they had as their afxliates and really stayed with them.” The Marlins currently have the fourth-ranked farm system in baseball, according to MLB.com. And after making the playoffs last year, they are seen as an organization on the rise under the direction of Jeter, who is the CEO and part-owner of the franchise. https://www.beloitdailynews.com/sports/snappers-align-with-marlins/article_bde60c7d-f0e0-5055-86ea-e3d225b8988f.html 3/4 12/10/2020 Snappers align with Marlins | Sports | beloitdailynews.com “I’m excited to partner with the Marlins for several reasons,” Studer said. “The xrst is that there are a lot of advantages to having both of our teams as afxliates. The second is that we have always been an organization that has embraced diversity, and with the Marlins being the xrst organization to have a female GM (Kim Ng), I thought that was just great.” The Marlins’ minor league talent is a nice bonus, but Studer said that paled in comparison to the other factors. “For the most part, wins and losses aren’t that important in minor league baseball,” Studer said. “What’s important is the fan experience. A win for us is the fan leaving the ballpark happy. The players come and go, but the experience we can give fans will be consistent every night.” Studer did say the leap from low-A to high-A was signixcant, and the quality of play on the xeld will be improved. “One of the big differences is that you rarely see a top prospect skip the high-A level,” Studer said. “That jump from low-A to AA is really signixcant. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of players go from Beloit to Pensacola, and some going the other way, too, and we’ll be able to provide them a consistent experience.” Josh Flickinger https://www.beloitdailynews.com/sports/snappers-align-with-marlins/article_bde60c7d-f0e0-5055-86ea-e3d225b8988f.html 4/4.