Blake Snell’s Cautious Return to the Dodgers
PHOENIX — If he were on any other team, Blake Snell would certainly be stealing the spotlight at camp.
The veteran pitcher, who has won the Cy Young Award twice, hasn’t thrown a pitch during spring training due to a shoulder injury. His manager mentioned that there is “probably zero” chance he will be ready for the opening game.
When approached for comments on Saturday morning, Snell chose not to share any thoughts on his current condition.
“No,” he simply stated before leaving the Dodgers’ clubhouse.
It’s easy to be critical of a player who avoids the media — though, to be fair, Snell was similarly reserved last year. But could his silence indicate some level of frustration?
“I think he wants to get healthy,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “He wants to be out there. Honestly, there’s probably not much to discuss since he’s not on the mound and not part of the game right now. There’s likely zero chance he’ll start the season, so it seems for him that the focus is on getting back on the field.”
Snell’s progress is already shifting. Just two weeks before spring training, when asked at a fan event about being ready for Opening Day, he had said, “That’s the plan.”
For the Dodgers, his absence at the start of the season isn’t particularly worrying. They have enough depth to manage a month or two without him. After missing four months last season, Snell made a comeback in August, effectively preparing him for the postseason where he started five games and contributed an inning of relief in Game 7 of the World Series.
With October in mind, the Dodgers believe their rotation, featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Tyler Glasnow, can handle the regular season successfully.
Although Snell has indicated he intends to take a slow approach, discussions about his endurance can be sensitive. Despite his accolades, he has never pitched 200 innings in a season or achieved an All-Star designation. He’s often known for not going deep into games.
His reputation weighed on him enough that he addressed it after throwing a no-hitter with the Giants in 2024. “They can’t say that anymore,” he remarked, proud of his complete game performance. “Leave him alone. ‘He’s not going to the ninth inning.’ Well, I just did it. So just leave me be.”
Yet, that year he still pitched only 104 innings for the Giants and managed just 61 1/3 innings in his first season with the Dodgers. Interestingly, Snell described that first season as “perfect,” attributing it to the team’s World Series victory.
He stepped up during critical games, notably pitching seven innings in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Reds and eight shutout innings in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers.
After speaking with Snell, does Roberts think he’s reevaluating his priorities?
“I think he’s approaching this like he did last year when he joined the new team,” Roberts suggested. “He pushed to kick off the season healthy, which totally makes sense, and he learned from that experience. He dealt with issues throughout the year. This time, I believe he will ensure he’s ready to start healthy and finish strong. He knows we rely on him, and on a personal level, he likely aims for another Cy Young Award. To achieve that, he has to be healthy and active. That’s his goal.”
Roberts confirmed that Snell “definitely” won’t pitch next week and doesn’t expect him to participate in any exhibition games. While Snell’s individual goals might be at stake if he makes mistakes, there’s still a possibility he could enjoy a “perfect” season.
