Blake Snell’s Shoulder Recovery Progress

As spring training has unfolded, Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell has faced numerous inquiries about a stubborn shoulder injury plaguing him since the season began.

This situation even spilled over into his Twitch game streams, where a recent interaction with a viewer gained some traction online. A user jokingly requested Snell be removed from the injured list, to which he sarcastically acknowledged his shoulder—the very reason for his sidelining.

“Hey, shoulders,” he remarked. “Don’t get inflamed. Skip the postseason if you’re not feeling good. Trying to win the World Series when you’re hurting? Oh, you can’t start the season because you’re still in pain?”

His light-hearted frustration seemed to echo through that exchange.

However, the intensity shifted on Saturday afternoon as Snell faced batters for the first time this season in a live batting practice session. Although it was only 15 pitches in a simulated inning, it marked a significant step in his recovery.

“I was really looking forward to it,” Snell shared post-practice. “Finally being able to throw and gauge my condition felt like self-discovery.”

This offseason, Snell embarked on a personal journey, revamping his training and diet—goodbye junk food, hello Pilates—as he heads into his 11th MLB season.

Yet, frustration lingered due to the fatigue in his left shoulder, a result of pitching 34 innings in the playoffs. “He’s a bit frustrated,” noted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, “but there’s an excitement because he feels strong and healthy.”

While Snell had sensed improvement in his shoulder early in camp, last season’s experience weighed heavily on him. He had tried to pitch through pain and ultimately spent four months on the injured list. Hence, the decision was made to take a more cautious path this time around.

The team now hopes Snell can quicken his recovery. During Saturday’s session, he showcased promise, achieving three consecutive outs against Tommy Edman and Alex Cole, both of whom are managing their own rehabilitation processes.

Moving forward, Snell is likely to engage in additional live BP sessions, gradually working up to three or four innings before potentially moving to a minor league rehab assignment.

If all goes according to plan, he may be back in the majors by the end of May. After starting just 11 regular season games last year, he’s optimistic about doubling that this season.

“This time around, I’ve approached things differently,” he reflected. “I’m genuinely excited about how I feel right now.”

When playfully confronted about his Twitch comments, he chuckled, “I should watch my language a bit more, but it was all pretty genuine.”

Regarding the curious relationship with his shoulder, he smiled. “I hope that soon, all these questions—online and offline—will fade away.”

“I think so,” Snell concluded. “I’ve been tuning in for some time now, and I’m finally ready to engage.”