BOSTON (AP) – Earl Snyder grew up rooting for Boston outfielder Ellis Burks. Now he’s sitting next to him.

Snyder was the Red Sox starting third baseman on Wednesday night, a day after he was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to fill in for the injured Kevin Youkilis.

“This is a place I’ve always dreamed of playing,” Snyder, a native of Plainville, Conn., said. “It’s so exciting to be here.”

Snyder, 28, was drafted by the New York Mets in 1998 and was the organizations minor league player of the year in 2001, when he hit .290 with 38 doubles, 20 homers and 78 RBIs. He was traded to Cleveland in 2002 and played in 12 games for the Indians, including a trip to Boston.

“The only thing I wanted to do in batting practice was hit the ball over the Green Monster,” said Snyder.

The Red Sox claimed him off waivers that offseason and put in him Pawtucket, where he batted .255 with 22 homers and 71 RBIs in 2003. He made the International League all-star team this year and led the league with 33 homers, 90 RBIs and 70 extra-base hits when Boston purchased his contract from the PawSox.

“Even though we don’t want to see Youkilis get hurt, it gives a guy like this a chance,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Snyder isn’t expected to stick around long. He could be gone this weekend if Mark Bellhorn is ready to return from the disabled list.

But Snyder was already making plans for friends and family to see him at Fenway or this weekend in Chicago.

“I was a huge Red Sox fan growing up,” Snyder said. “My family wouldn’t let me be anything but a Red Sox fan.”

AP-ES-08-18-04 1833EDT