Brian Schneider #23

Brian Duncan Schneider... Married Jordan Sproat (11/6/04); one daughter, Tatum Elizabeth (3/3/07) and two sons, Calin Duncan (4/20/09) and Holden McKinney (9/16/10)... 1995 graduate of Northampton High School (PA), where he played baseball and basketball... Skipped his high school graduation ceremonies to join the Gulf Coast League Expos after being drafted... Named Player of the Year in Lehigh Valley in 1994 and 1995... Participated in MLB's All-Star Tour of Japan in 2006... Named MTL's Roberto Clemente Award winner after donating $2,500 to the ALS Society of Quebec... Caught the ceremonial first pitch from President George W. Bush prior to WSH's regular season debut in Washington, 4/4/04 vs ARI... Founded the "Catching for Kids Foundation" with his wife Jordan to help underprivileged children on the national level... Signed by: Jim Gabella.

2011

Made 36 starts...The Phillies went 28-8 (.778) in his starts, including 27-3 (.900) through his first 30 starts...Started 19 consecutive wins, 5/7-9/6...Phillies pitchers had a 2.85 ERA with him in the game...Caught 3 of 23 potential basestealers (13.0%)...Was on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring, 5/12-6/23.

2010

Started 38 games at catcher and threw out 8 of 30 potential base stealers (27%) ... Had a season-high 3 hits three times ... Hit .300 (12-40) against NL East teams (16 G) ... Of his 4 HR, 3 gave the Phillies the lead and one tied the game; Phils were 4-0 when he homered ... Placed on the 15-day DL, 5/9 (left Achilles strain); activated on 5/24 ... Belted his 2nd career walk-off HR in the 12th inning, 7/8 vs CIN (Jordan Smith) ... Hit .391 (9-23), HR, 5 RBI over his final 8 games ... Batted .339 (20-59), 7 RBI in day games

2009

Was the Opening Day catcher for NYM...Threw out 9 of 28 (32.1%) potential basestealers...Placed on the 15-day DL on 4/16 (mid-back strain); activated on 5/30...Batted .382 (13-34) from 8/26 through the end of the season, raising his batting average from .179 to .218.

2008

Hit .277 (72-260) with nine home runs and 31 RBI vs. righthanded pitching...Had a .273 (39-143) batting average with runners on base...Posted a .321 (36-112) batting average from the seventh inning on...Threw out 21 of 63 (33 percent) baserunners attempting to steal...Had four home runs and nine RBI in six games between August 14th-August 23rd...Had 17 multiple-hit games on the year, 12 games with two hits and five games with three hits...Knocked in two runs nine times and three runs twice...Hit in six straight games from April 1st-April 9th...Batted .400 (8-20) over that stretch...At the plate when Washington's Joel Hanrahan threw a wild pitch allowing the winning run to score in the 14th inning on April 17th in New York's 3-2 win...Sidelined for three games with a bruised right forearm sustained April 19th at Philadelphia...Missed eight games because of an infection in his left thumb...Was admitted to the Hospital for Special Surgery on April 24th and released on April 30th...Returned to action on May 4th vs. Arizona...In April, he hit 17-51 (.333)...Had an RBI in four straight games, May 13th-May 18th (five total)...Connected on a pinch-hit two-run double on July 5th vs. Philadelphia...It was his first hit as a pinch-hitter since the 2006 season and snapped a 4-4 tie in a game the Mets would win, 9-4...Was issued three walks for the third time in 2008 on August 13th at Washington...Also had three walks on July 10th vs. San Francisco and July 12th vs. Colorado...Hit safely in 13 of 16 games between August 26th and September 18th...Batted .327 (16-49) with three doubles, three home runs and eight RBI...Compiled a .286 (16-56) batting average with four home runs and 11 RBI in 20 games in August...Connected on two home runs, September 18th at Washington (off Tim Redding, Jason Bergmann)...It was the second multiple-home run game of his career and his first since April 19, 2003 with Montreal in the first game of a doubleheader vs. Cincinnati.

2007

Was again Washington's front-line catcher...offensively, improved consistency, hitting .235 with 21 doubles, one triple, 6 home runs and 54 RBI in 129 games/120 starts...reached the 120-start plateau for the 2nd time (125 in 2004)...posted as many walks (56) as strikeouts (56)...of the 33 big league catchers to play at least 80 games, was one of only 2 to post as many walks as K's...the other was MIN's Joe Maurer (57 BB, 51 SO)...posted a vastly superior on-base percentage in the season's 2nd half (.349)...OBP prior to the All-Star break was .310...in 22 plate appearances with the bases loaded, went 5-for-14 (.357) with 4 walks and 4 sacrifice flies...batted just .229 (44-for-192) at RFK...recorded first 5 RBI of the season without the virtue of a hit (the RBI all came on either a sac fly or RBI groundouts)...thus, became the first player in MLB to record first 5 RBI of a season not as the outcome of a hit since PIT's Mike Kingery turned the trick in 1996...ended the season in a 36-game homerless drought...defensively, posted a .992 fielding percentage and a 4.79 catcher's ERA (560 ER/1051.1 IP)...ranked 4th in the NL having gunned down 22 would-be basestealers...caught stealing percentage was 29.3 (22 of 75)...allowed 5 passed balls...when starting behind the plate, Washington went 52-68 (.433)...52-68 mark included "wins" in each of final 4 starts. Game-By-Game Highlights: 2nd-inning 2-run shot on May 25 at STL proved to be game-winning hit in a 5-4 win...eclipsed 2006 home run total (4) with 5th homer of season, a 2-run shot off Brad Thompson, August 4 vs. STL...made 100th start of season in a 7-6 win at HOU on August 23...laced game-winning 2-run double to trigger a 6-3 come-from-behind win, Sept. 3 vs. FLA...posted 3 hits and 3 RBI in a 10-9 win, September 25 at NYM...played 0.2 inning defensively at 1B on Aug. 29 at LAD.

2006

Struggled offensively through much of season, but righted ship late and posted numbers comparable to those posted in previous seasons...posted career-high 55 RBI...hit just .223 through August 4, but batted .324 (44-for-136) with 9 doubles, one homer and 21 RBI in 42 games thereafter...hit .344 (22-for-64) beginning September 5...hit safely in career-high 11 straight games, September 5-20, at a .361 (13-for-36) clip with 3 doubles, 5 RBI and 3 walks...3 of 4 home runs came at RFK...with the bases loaded, went 4-for-11 with 3 walks and one HBP to record a .533 OBP...hit .305 (43-for-141) with 2 outs...batted above .300 in May (.308), August (.333) and September (.306)...endured first career DL stint, May 11-25 (left hamstring strain)...posted twice as many hits against PHI (22) than any other opponent (11 against FLA and NYM)...when batting 6th, batted .347 (17-for-49) with 4 doubles and 9 RBI...hit .231 prior to the All-Star break, .286 after...grounded into career-high 14 double plays...made 500th career start at catcher on August 4 at SDP (0-for-4)...in 111 starts at catcher (2nd-highest total of career), Washington went 45-66 (.405)...for first time since 2002, did not lead either MLB or the NL in percentage of would-be basestealers thrown out...gunned down 21 of 79 (27%) would-be basestealers in 2006...appeared defensively at 1B for the first time on October 1 vs. NYM...did not have the luxury of a regular spring training... was a member of the Team USA during the World Baseball Classic...shared catching duties with Jason Varitek and formerteammate Michael Barrett...went 0-for-6 in the tournament, but started Team USA's opener vs. Mexico...represented MLB in the annual tour/series of Japan after the season, playing for SFG-manager Bruce Bochy.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Blasted 9th-inning 2-run shot off Derrick Turnbow to turn 3-2 defeat into 4-3 victory, June 3 at MIL...also gunned down 2 would-be basestealers in the game...went 3-for-4 with a double, homer and 2 RBI on July 9 vs. SDP...laced opposite field 2-run double in 2nd inning off Tom Glavine to account for Nationals' offense in a 2-1 win vs. NYM, August 11...doubled, homered and notched 3 RBI in a 9-6 win on August 16 vs. ATL...laced pinchhit RBI single, Sept. 6 vs. STL, to record first pinch RBI since hitting pinch grand slam on Sept. 15, 2003 vs. ATL...season-best 4 hits on September 25 at NYM matched career high for 4th time...laced game-winning 2-run single to snap 1-1 tie in an eventual 3-1 win vs. PHI on September 28...the hit was significant, however, because it came at approximately 1:15 am (on Sept. 29), as the game did not begin until 11:32 pm due to rain. Castillo (281 career stolen bases) in the same game on Sept. 6 vs. FLA.

2005

Played only two of the last 17 games because of a sore shoulder. ... Led Major League catchers by stopping 38 percent would-be base stealers. ... Hit .295 from June 1 to the rest of the season.

2004

Posted outstanding numbers both offensively and defensively in first full season as a front-line catcher...contended for Gold Glove, as numbers show he was NL's top defensive backstop...for 2nd straight season, led MLB catchers throwing out 47.8 percent of would-be basestealers (Henry Blanco 2nd at 44.6 percent)...percentage increased from the season prior (46.7% in 2003, 47.8% in 2004)...was part of MLB-leading 16 double plays...set franchise record for fielding percentage (.998) in a single season by a catcher...appeared in career-high 135 games...started career-best 125 contests (3rd in MLB, trailed only Jason Kendall [145] and Jorge Posada [126])...gunned down big league-best 33 would-be basestealers (Kendall 2nd with 31)...ranked 2nd among MLB catchers having caught 1114.0 innings (Kendall first with 1259.0)...recorded 4 catcher pickoffs to rank 2nd in MLB (Benji Molina first with 5)...despite youthful pitching staff, Brian's 3.86 catcher's ERA ranked 4th among catchers with 90 or more starts...tied for 5th in MLB with .998 fielding percentage...helped the Expos rank among MLB's best clubs in number of wouldbe basestealers caught stealing (tied for 3rd with 38) and fewest stolen bases allowed (2nd with 58)...Montreal went 52-73 with Brian as its starting catcher...posted career highs in at-bats (436), runs (40), hits (112), triples (3), homers (12), RBI (49), walks (42) and total bases (174)...12 home runs tied for 5th among NL catchers...number of walks rose (42 from 37), while strikeouts fell (63 from 75) compared to 2003 totals...recorded first 10 RBI of 2004 via the long ball...did not record an RBI without a home run until driving in the decisive run in a 3-2 win on May 18 vs. MIL in San Juan...6 home runs with runners in scoring position ranked 2nd among Expos (Tony Batista, 8)...15 RBI in August set a new single-month career high...with 2, was the only Expos to hit more than one homer at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in 2004...hit 2 home runs off left-handed pitchers (May 14 at ARI off Casey Fossum and July 9 vs. PIT off John Grabow)....8 of 12 home runs came while hitting in the 8th hole...6 of 12 long balls came after the 6th inning...a closer look at the performances of Montreal's catchers in 2004. Game-By-Game Highlights: Raised primarily in the Northampton, PA (Allentown) area, hit a 2-run homer off Kevin Millwood in his first at-bat at new Citizens Bank Park, April 17 (was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance)...had never homered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...eclipsed the 100 career RBI plateau with game-winning 3-run homer off Steve Sparks, May 16 at ARI...tallied 3 extra-base hits in a single game for the first time in his career on June 22 vs. PHI...homered off Brett Myers in the 3rd inning before adding doubles in the 6th and 8th innings as the Expos topped PHI, 5-2...snapped 1-1 tie with game-winning solo homer with one out in the 8th in Expos' 2-1 victory on July 9 vs. PIT...established new career high with 10th home run on August 8 at HOU off Dan Miceli...blasted 2nd career grand slam on August 11 vs. ARI off Brandon Webb...matched career high with seasonhigh 4 hits, September 5 vs. ATL...hit 12th and final home run of the season on August 25 vs. LA...takes a 30-game homerless streak into the 2005 campaign.

2003

In his fourth season with the Expos, Schneider caught a majority of the club's games for the first time ... was behind the plate for 841 innings ...ranked fifth in the league in fielding at .996, committing only three errors in 709 total chances ... at the plate, established career highs in numerous offensive categories, including hits (77), doubles (26), home runs (nine), RBIs (46), total bases (132), walks (37), games (108) and at-bats (335).

2003 Highlights:

LONGEST ARM OF THE LAW: Led all big league catchers having thrown out 46.7 percent of would-be basestealers (21 in 45 attempts), ahead of Tampa Bay's Toby Hall at 41.3% (31/75), Anaheim's Bengie Molina at 40.8% (31/76) and Cubs' Damian Miller at 38.2% (26/68).

FEWEST SBA: Schneider along with Barrett (68 games) and Guzman (4 games) combined to allow the fewest stolen bases against in baseball, by a wide margin, in front of St. Louis (55) and the White Sox (58)...their defensive reputation behind the plate likely was among the reasons the Expos had the fewest stolen bases attempted against them in 2003...only 71 stolen bases were attempted against Montreal...St. Louis ranked 2nd with 74.

THE GRIND: From July 27-September 11, started 39 of 43 games behind the plate, including streaks of 13 (July 27- August 9) and 12 games in a row (August 11-23)...in all, was 30-for-138 (.217) with 11 doubles, 2 home runs and 14 RBI during the 39-game stretch...22 hits and 12 RBI in August were single-month career highs...did not make an error during the 39 games, during which Montreal went 20-19 (.513).

DIAL ZERO: Caught 6 of the 10 shutouts recorded by Montreal pitchers in 2003 (April 11 vs. New York-NL, April 24 vs. Arizona, June 23 vs. Pittsburgh, August 18 vs. San Francisco, August 28 vs. Philadelphia and September 18 vs. New York-NL)...caught one of the Expos' 2 complete-game shutouts: Javier Vazquez, August 18 vs. San Francisco.

HERO, HERO: Posted first career multi-homer game in a 3-2 victory on April 18 in Puerto Rico vs. Cincinnati...2nd long ball-off Scott Williamson in the 10th inning-was a game-ending homer...in a 3-2 win on April 29 at Milwaukee, provided another game-winning hit in one of the Expos' 19 last at-bat victories on the season...with one out in the 9th inning, plated Brad Wilkerson with the winning run while legged out an infield single off Mike DeJean.

MORE BIG GAMES: Lifted a tie-breaking and game-winning 3-run homer off southpaw Dan Plesac with 2 outs in the 7th inning as Montreal posted a dramatic 5-3 win vs. Philadelphia, May 25...doubled and homered en route to career-high 5 RBI, June 6 in Puerto Rico vs. Texas...had 3 hits twice: April 29 at Milwaukee and June 19 at Pittsburgh.

GRAND-IOSE OCCASION: Hit first career grand slam-as a pinch hitter-September 15 vs. Atlanta...was the first Expos to hit a pinch slam since Chris Widger in '98...the slam was one of 5 hit by the Expos in '03...the pinch homer was one of 4 hit by Montreal in 2003. Schneider, Brian

MORE HIGHLIGHTS: Montreal went 49-46 (.516) with Schneider as its starting backstop, including wins in 5 of his final 6 starts...hit 3 home runs against left-handed pitchers after entering the season with none...went 3-for-12 (.250) with the bases loaded, but all 3 hits went for extra bases (2 doubles, grand slam)...thanks to 10 walks, posted a .379 on-base percentage in May...hit .262 at both Olympic and Hiram Bithorn stadiums...5 of 9 home runs came in only 45 games at The Big O.

2002

Schneider spent his first full season in the major leagues during the 2002 campaign, helping provide the Expos with a strong one-two punch at the catcher position, serving as the backup to Michael Barrett... Hit .275 (57x207) with five HR and 29 RBI in 73 games played, adding 21 runs scored... Showcased his hitting skills by adding 19 doubles... Threw out 43.5 % of runners attempting to steal bases (20/46)... Started 57 games behind the plate... Set a career high with four hits in a game, while tying his personal best with three RBI in a game on two occasions... Broke his previous career high with a seven-game hitting streak... Named the Expos' winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing community service...

• COMPLETE DEAL: Was behind the plate for five of the Expos' nine complete games... Caught back-to-back complete games August 18-19, serving as the battery mate for Tomo Ohka and Bartolo Colon, respectively, in their home games against the San Diego Padres...
• SEVENTH HEAVEN: Posted a career-high seven-game hitting streak July 7-25... Hit .300 (9x30) with one double, two HR, four RBI and four runs during the stretch... His previous personal best of six straight games with a hit was achieved twice, including April 24-May 8 earlier in the season (also September 3-11, 2000)...
• FLYING HIGH: Also recorded a career high for most hits in a game, picking up four hits September 17 at Florida... His 4-for-6 performance with two doubles, two RBI and a run bested his old standard of two hits in a game, done 10 times in the season and 16 times in his career...
• FLYING HIGH II: Collected three RBI both April 11 at Florida and September 2 versus Philadelphia, tying his career high set twice before (last – September 28, 2001 @ CIN)...
• WAY OUT IN LEFT FIELD: Made his outfield debut June 4 against Pittsburgh, entering in left field after pinch-hitting for Wil Cordero in the bottom of the eighth inning... Would make a second outfield appearance June 9 at Comiskey Park, pinch-running for Vladimir Guerrero in the sixth inning and replacing him in right field for the remainder of the game... Did not commit an error in the outfield, but did not receive any fielding chances, either...
• TRIPLE THREAT: Hit his first career triple April 28 against the St. Louis Cardinals, picking up the three-base hit off Matt Morris at Olympic Stadium as part of the Expos' 5-2 win... Would add his second career triple July 31 against the Arizona Diamondbacks...
• FLYING SOLO: All five of his homers during the season came with no runners on base...
• BIG BANG: Began the season with four hits and five RBI in his first two games, doubling twice at Cincinnati April 5 and twice more April 11 at Florida... Picked up two RBI and two runs in his game against the Reds, while knocking in three runs against the Marlins... In his first six games played, Schneider collected an RBI in four games, picking up eight in total...
• SUPER SUB: Started six straight games July 25-31 while Michael Barrett nursed a left forearm contusion...
• HATS OFF TO BRIAN: Was honored by the Expos September 24, being recognized as the team's nominee for Major League Baseball's first annual Roberte Clemente Award... A $2,500 cheque was presented to the ALS Society of Québec on Schneider's behalf... He was chosen for the award for his community service and humanitarian spirit... Each team selected its own winner, while CLE's Jim Thome won the overall MLB award...

2001

Schneider made the most of his opportunities with the Expos in 2001, batting .317 (13x41) in 27 games, hitting one home run while driving in six runs and scoring four times... Was optioned to the AAA-Ottawa Lynx March 14 in order to gain more frequent playing time... Played the entire season with the Lynx until June 18, when he was recalled from the Lynx... Was optioned back to Ottawa July 8... Was recalled as a September call-up September 4 and played the duration of the season with the parent club... Made an impression on the Expos' coaching staff for this year, playing in 18 out of a possible 25 games when he was called up for the final stretch of the season... Spelled off Michael Barrett by making nine starts in that time.

• MOVIN' ON UP: Was recalled by the Expos June 18, after Curtis Pride was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right wrist contusion... Would be optioned back to the AAA-Ottawa Lynx July 8, after having played in nine games with the Expos, going 2-for-6 (.333) with a double, RBI and a run... Made six pinch-hit appearances while entering the game as a defensive replacement three times...
• BREAKING THE ICE: Picked up his first hit of the season with the Expos June 27, hitting a single to right field off Ricky Bones in the top of the ninth inning in a 9-1 loss at Florida... Would earn his first run batted in July 4, doubling off Matt Clement to score Geoff Blum in the bottom of the fourth inning, en route to a 9-6 win over the Marlins at the Big O...
• TOTAL RECALL: Rejoined the Expos September 4, as part of the September call-ups... Would play 18 games down the stretch, going 11-for-35 (.314), along with two doubles, one HR, five RBI and three runs scored...
• HOME RUN HAPPY: Hit his first career HR September 22, hitting a 1-0 pitch from Scott Elarton over the right-field fence in the fifth inning... The two-run homer proved to be the difference in a 3-1 Expos' home victory over the Rockies...
• FIELDING: Threw out four of seven potential base stealers...Had a 1.000 fielding percentage (in 77 total chances) with two passed balls...
• DEUCES WILD: Tied a career high on two occasions, picking up two hits in a game September 22 vs the Rockies (2-for-3, double, HR, two RBI, two runs) and September 28 @ Cincinnati (2-for-3, double, three RBI, walk)... Has now had two hits in a game six times in his career...
• THREE CHEERS: Drove in three runs September 28 against the Reds, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk... Helped the Expos nip the Reds 7-6 at Cinergy Field... The three RBI tied a career high set June 2, 2000 vs the Orioles...
• IN THE MINORS: Played a total of 97 games with the Lynx over two separate stays...Led the team in doubles (27), three ahead of Tomas De La Rosa (24)...
• AWARD: Was named the AAA-Ottawa Lynx Player of the Month for August... Batted .329 (28x85) in 23 games, hitting six doubles, one triple, one HR, 10 RBI and scoring 11 runs.

2000

Schneider made a great impression at spring training 2000 after his selection to the Eastern League (AA) All-Star team... Reached the majors earlier than expected due in part to the injury to catcher Chris Widger... Was optioned to AAA-Ottawa on June 22 and was recalled for a short four-day stint from August 8-11 when Widger was claimed on waivers by the Mariners...Was recalled for the third time on August 18 and for the rest of the season when Lenny Webster was placed on the disabled list... Made 32 starts behind the plate... Had a .974 fielding percentage (six errors in 230 total chances) with five passed balls.

• DEBUT: Made his major league debut on May 26 at San Diego, going 0-for-1 after coming in the game as a defensive replacement in the 9th...
• FIRST START: Went 2-for-3, walk in his first career start on May 27 at San Diego...Doubled off Matt Clement in the 6th inning for his first Major League hit...
• 3 RBI: Drove in his first run in the majors on June 2 at Baltimore while going 2-for-3 with 3 RBI...
• WINNER: Drove in the winning run in the 12th inning on September 9 at Atlanta with a sacrifice fly, while going 1-for-4 with an intentional walk...
• STREAK: Had a six-game hitting streak from September 3-11, going 8-for-19 (.421) with two doubles and three RBI...
• RUNNERS: Caught 10 of 38 would-be base stealers (26.3 %).

1999

Schneider, in his fifth season in the Expos chain, completed his first full season at the Double-A level by being named to the Eastern League Postseason All-Star Team with teammates Andy Tracy (1B) and Tony Armas (P)... Batted a solid .264 at Harrisburg and set personal highs in home runs (17) and RBI (66)... Started 112 games behind the plate and lead all EL catchers with a .992 fielding percentage, committing just six miscues the entire season... Started all nine games in the playoffs as Harrisburg captured its fourth consecutive Eastern League title... Considered by Baseball America as the seventh-best prospect in the organization because of his agility and quickness behind the plate, coupled with his strong and accurate throwing arm... Caught for Phoenix in the Arizona Fall League at season's end... Schneider hit safely in 13 straight games from July 5-19... His streak came to an end the night after going 5-for-5 with two doubles, July 19 vs Reading... Rapped out 21 hits in 36 at-bats (.583) with 11 RBI during the streak... Batted .386 in July (34-for-88) while driving in 23 runs... Went 4-for-4 with a homer on August 24 vs Erie... Was used as a designated hitter on five occasions (3-for-19) and was used once at first base... Also went 2-for-8 as a pinch-hitter.

1998

In 1998, started the season at Cape Fear before earning a promotion on May 19 to Class A Jupiter of the Florida State League.

1997

In 1997 at Class A Cape Fear, he emerged as a premiere defensive player while accumulating solid offensive numbers... Was named to the mid-season All-Star team.

1996

Returned to the Gulf Coast League Club in 1996 where he batted .268 while leading his team with 24 walks... Was promoted to Class A Delmarva, where he appeared in five South Atlantic League playoff games, collecting three hits in nine at-bats.

1995

After his selection by the Expos in the 1995 June Draft, Schneider reported to the Gulf Coast Rookie League immediately after his exams, skipping his graduation.