| Blake Snell | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Snell at theDodgers parade in 2025 | |
| Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 7 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1992-12-04)December 4, 1992 (age 32) Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 23, 2016, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 81–62 |
| Earned run average | 3.15 |
| Strikeouts | 1,440 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Blake Ashton Snell (born December 4, 1992) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theLos Angeles Dodgers ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theTampa Bay Rays,San Diego Padres, andSan Francisco Giants.
Snell was selected by the Rays in the first round of the2011 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with them in 2016. He won the American League (AL)Cy Young Award in 2018, when he was anAll-Star and led the league in bothwins andearned run average (ERA). The Rays traded Snell to the Padres before the 2021 season and he won his second Cy Young Award in 2023.
Snell signed with the Giants in 2024. He threw ano-hitter on August 2 against theCincinnati Reds. He began a five-year contract with the Dodgers in 2025. He was a part of the team's2025 World Series championship over theToronto Blue Jays.
Blake Ashton Snell was born on December 4, 1992, inSeattle, Washington. Snell attendedShorewood High School inShoreline, Washington, where he played for the baseball team.[1][2] In high school, he trained at a facility owned by his father, a formerminor league baseball player. In his senior season, Snell recorded a 9–0win–loss record, a 1.00earned run average (ERA) with 128strikeouts in over 63innings pitched.[3]
TheTampa Bay Rays selected Snell in the first round of the2011 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He signed with the Rays for a $684,000 bonus[5] and made his professional debut with theGulf Coast Rays, where he was 1–2 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 games (eight starts).[6] He spent 2012 with thePrinceton Rays, pitching to a 5–1 record and a 2.09 ERA in 11 starts, and 2013 with theBowling Green Hot Rods where he compiled a 4–9 record and a 4.27 ERA in 23 starts.[6]
Snell started 2014 with Bowling Green and was promoted to theCharlotte Stone Crabs in May. On August 2, he pitched a rain-shortenedno-hitter against theDaytona Cubs, it was the first no-hitter in Stone Crabs history.[7][8] In 24 total games started between the two clubs, he was 8–8 with a 3.19 ERA.[6] After the season, he was named the Rays Minor League Pitcher of the Year.[9][10] Snell started 2015 with the Stone Crabs and was promoted to theMontgomery Biscuits after allowing no runs in 21 innings to start the season.[11] He was later promoted to theDurham Bulls.[12] In 25 games (23 starts) between the three clubs, he was 15–4 with a 1.41 ERA and a 1.02WHIP[13] and he was named theUSA Today Minor League Pitcher of the Year.[14] The Rays added him to their40-man roster after the season.[15] Snell began the 2016 season with Durham,[16] where he made 12 starts and was 3–5 with a 3.29 ERA.[6]
Snell was promoted to the major leagues to make his debut on April 23, 2016, atYankee Stadium.[17] He allowed a run off of awild pitch in the first inning, but he calmed down after that, striking out the side in the second inning, and retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced. His first major league strikeout was ofBrian McCann.[18] He picked up his first career major league win on June 27, when he allowed four runs in5+1⁄3 innings against theBoston Red Sox.[19] Through the 2016 season for Tampa, Snell made 19 starts, finishing with a 6–8 record, 3.54 ERA, and 98 strikeouts over 89 innings.[19]
At the beginning of the 2017 season, Snell failed to work into the sixth inning in almost all of his first eight games and was routinely touching 100 pitches in the fourth inning. After posting an ERA of 4.71 through eight starts in 2017, he was demoted to Durham on May 13.[20] On June 28, Snell was recalled[21] and went 5–1 with a 3.31 ERA to finish the season with 24 starts, recording 119 strikeouts over129+1⁄3 innings with a 4.04 ERA.[22]
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Snell opened the 2018 season in the Rays starting rotation.[23] On June 3, he tied anAL record by striking out the first seven batters he faced in a game against theSeattle Mariners atSafeco Field. Snell ended the game allowing no runs in six innings and recorded 12 strikeouts. This was his first career start at Safeco Field in front of many of his friends and family, an estimated 300, including the first professional start witnessed by his grandfather, whom he considers a mentor.[24]
At the time of theAll-Star team announcement, Snell was 12–4 with a 2.09 ERA, the lowest of all qualified pitchers in the American League. Despite his success, he was not named to the original AL roster. This led to wide criticism of the selection process by players, coaches, fans, and analysts.[25][26] AfterCorey Kluber opted out of the All-Star game due to injury, Snell was named his replacement, ending the controversy and awarding him his first career All-Star appearance.[27]
On July 23, Snell was put on the10-day disabled list with shoulder fatigue.[28] He was reactivated on August 4 against theChicago White Sox.[29] On August 21, Snell set a new MLB record with his 13th straight start allowing one earned run or fewer at home[30] After he allowed two runs at home against theBaltimore Orioles, his streak ended at 14.[31] and he was theAmerican League Pitcher of the Month for August, during which he went 4–0 with a 1.08 ERA over five starts.[32]
On September 18, Snell recorded his 20th victory on the season, becoming the first Ray to accomplish this sinceDavid Price in 2012.[33] On September 23, he won his 21st game, setting a franchise record after pitching 62⁄3 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts against theToronto Blue Jays.[34] He was again named the American League Pitcher of the Month for September, in which he went 5–0 with a 1.26 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 352⁄3 innings. Snell became the youngest pitcher to win the award in consecutive months sinceJohan Santana in 2004.[35]
Snell finished his breakout season leading the majors in wins (21),adjusted ERA+ (219), andbatting average against (.178), as well as leading the American League inearned run average (1.89) andwins above replacement among pitchers (7.5).[36] His 1.89 ERA was the lowest in the American League sincePedro Martinez posted a 1.74 in 2000, and the third-lowest in the AL since thedesignated hitter was introduced in 1973.[37] He allowed two or fewer runs in 27 of his 31 starts and one or zero runs in 21 starts. Against the American League's five playoff teams, he went 9–2 with a 2.00 ERA.[38] He led all major league pitchers inleft on base percentage, stranding 88.0% of base runners.[39] For the season, he also had the lowest percentage of ballspulled against him (33.8%) among major league pitchers, and led major league pitchers in lowest contact percentage (66.6%).[40][41]
On November 14, Snell won the American LeagueCy Young Award, topping runner-upJustin Verlander by 15 points (169–154) and receiving 17 of 30 first-place votes. He became the second Rays pitcher to win the award, after Price in 2012.[38]
On March 21, 2019, Snell agreed to a five-year contract worth $50 million to keep him with the Rays through the 2023 season; it was the largest deal given to a major league pitcher before they reachedsalary arbitration.[42][43] In spring training, he was named theOpening Day starter.[44] His first win that season was a 4–0 victory over theColorado Rockies on April 2, pitching 13 strikeouts and just two hits in seven innings.[45] On April 16, he was placed on the injured list after breaking a toe on his right foot while moving furniture in his bathroom, and missed two starts.[46] On July 25, it was announced that he would undergoarthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow.[47] Due to multiple trips to the disabled list, Snell finished with a 6–8 record in 23 starts. He struck out 147 batters in 107 innings.[48]
Snell made his first career postseason appearance when he started Game 2 of theAmerican League Division Series against theHouston Astros and he also pitched in relief in the fourth and fifth games of the series, earning thesave in Game 4. In5+1⁄3 innings in the series, he allowed one run on four hits with seven strikeouts.[49]
Before the start of the delayed MLB season, Snell caused some controversy when he said that he was more concerned about his pay than health when it came to decisions to return to play during theCOVID-19 pandemic. He said, "I'm not playing unless I get mine ... That's just the way it is for me," later admitting that his words could be taken as selfish.[50] Commentators said his remarks were seen as "outrageously out-of-touch" during the pandemic.[51] In the pandemic-shortened season, Snell was 4–2 with a 3.24 ERA.[52] He tied the record for the AL lead in wild pitches, with seven.[53]
Snell started the first game of the postseason against theToronto Blue Jays in theWild Card Series, taking a no-hitter into the 6th inning as the Rays won.[54] He then started Game 1 of theDivision Series against theNew York Yankees, allowing four runs through five innings.[55] Snell started both Games 1 and 6 of theAmerican League Championship Series against theAstros. He allowed one run through five innings in Game 1 and two runs through four innings in Game 6.[55] In Game 2 of the2020 World Series against theLos Angeles Dodgers, Snell allowed two runs and struck out nine batters in4+2⁄3 innings.[56] He became the first player in World Series history to strike out nine or more batters in fewer than five innings pitched.[57] His nine strikeouts set a franchise postseason record and the Rays won the game 6–4[58] In Game 6 with the Rays leading 1–0 with one out, Snell was pulled byKevin Cash forNick Anderson in the 6th inning after pitching a shutout with two hits and nine strikeouts. The Dodgers then scored two runs that inning and would go on to win the game 3–1 and the World Series, resulting in criticism by fans and baseball media.[59]
On December 29, 2020, the Rays traded Snell to theSan Diego Padres in exchange for prospectsLuis Patiño,Blake Hunt, andCole Wilcox, along with catcherFrancisco Mejía.[60] Snell regressed a bit in 2021, as he ended the year with a 7–6 record and a 4.20 ERA over 27 starts.[61] Snell initially had trouble going deep into games, not completing six innings until his ninth start of the year.[62] After two more starts where he failed to get out of the fourth inning, Snell pitched seven shut-out innings against theMets on June 4, giving up only one hit.[63] Snell missed a pair of starts in the summer due to a bout with food poisoning.[64] Snell finished strong, posting a 1.83 ERA in his final eight starts of the year,[65] including seven innings of no-hit ball against theDiamondbacks on August 31.[66] He left his September 12 start early due to leftadductor tightness. He was placed on the injured list the following day, and he would not return.[67]
Snell's preparations for the 2022 season were interrupted by thelockout, and he was behind the other starting pitchers in building innings in spring training.[68] In his first scheduled start of the regular season, Snell again felt adductor tightness while warming up in the bullpen and he did not pitch in the game.[69] After going to the injured list, Snell returned to the starting rotation on May 18, pitching 32⁄3 innings against the Phillies.[70] With Snell's return, the Padres opted to go with a 6-man rotation to keepMacKenzie Gore in the starting line-up and lower stress on arms.[71] He made 24 starts in 2022, with an 8–10 record and 3.38 ERA.[72] He made three starts in thepostseason, one in each round the Padres completed in. He allowed two runs on four hits in3+1⁄3 innings in theWild Card Series, one run on four hits in5+1⁄3 innings in theDivision Series, and four runs on five hits in five innings in theNational League Championship Series.[72]
In 2023, Snell made 32 starts with a 14–9 record and 234 strikeouts in 180 innings pitched.[72] His ERA of 2.25 and hits-per-nine-innings (H/9) of 5.8 were the best inMajor League Baseball, as was his ERA+ of 182; at the same time, his 99 walks also led the Majors.[72] Additionally, he led all NL pitchers inWAR (6.0), second-most in the Majors behind Yankees pitcherGerrit Cole (7.5).[73] On November 14, Snell rejected a $20.25 millionqualifying offer from the Padres and chose to become a free agent.[74] The next day, he won the 2023NL Cy Young Award, receiving 28 out of 30 first-place votes. It was Snell's second Cy Young Award, and he was the seventh pitcher in MLB history to receive the award in both leagues.[75]
On March 19, 2024, Snell signed a two-year, $62 million contract with theSan Francisco Giants that contained an opt-out after the first year.[76] He made his debut on April 8, 2024, against theWashington Nationals, pitching in three innings and allowing three earned runs, taking the loss.[77]
Snell made two more starts in April before spending two stints on the injured list (plus paternity leave), making only three starts between April 20 and July 8.[78][79] On July 27 atOracle Park, against theColorado Rockies, Snell struck out a career-high 15 batters over six scoreless innings. It was the most strikeouts in six or fewer innings in MLB history.[80]
In his next start on August 2 against theCincinnati Reds atGreat American Ball Park, Snell pitched ano-hitter in a 3–0 win, his first win as a Giant. Snell struck out eleven batters and allowed only three base runners. It was also the first time he had completed pitching eight innings and ever pitched into the ninth inning in his major league career. He threw 114 pitches in the game, which was just short of his career high of 117.[81] On the season, he was 5–3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts.[72]
On November 1, 2024, Snell opted out of his contract with the Giants and became a free agent.[82]
On November 30, 2024, Snell signed a five-year contract worth $182 million with theLos Angeles Dodgers, which included a $52 million signing bonus and a conditional $10 million option for 2030.[83][84] He made his Dodgers debut as the starting pitcher for Opening Day on March 27, 2025, against theDetroit Tigers, pitching five innings, allowing two earned runs and walked four, while striking out two batters, taking the win.[85] After two starts, he was placed on the injured list for shoulder inflammation.[86] He did not rejoin the Dodgers' active roster until August 2.[87] He made 11 starts for the Dodgers in 2025, his lowest total since the pandemic shortened 2020 season, with a 5–4 record, 2.35 ERA, and 72 strikeouts.[72]
Snell started the Dodgers playoff opener against theCincinnati Reds in theWild Card Series, allowing two runs in seven innings, while striking out nine.[72] He then pitched six shutout innings, on only one hit, while striking out nine again, in the second game of the2025 NLDS against thePhiladelphia Phillies.[72] In the opening game of theNLCS against theMilwaukee Brewers, Snell struck out 10 and faced the minimum number of batters in eight shutout innings, allowing just one base runner on one hit, who was quickly picked off on the base paths.[88]
Snell struggled in his2025 World Series outings against theToronto Blue Jays. In Game 1, he gave up five runs, including three of the nine Toronto had in the sixth inning, on eight hits and three walks while only striking out four.[89] In his second start of the series, in Game 5, he allowed back-to-back homers toDavis Schneider andVladimir Guerrero Jr. to begin the game, the first back-to-back leadoff homers ever in a Series game. He finished with five runs over6+2⁄3 innings pitched with six hits, four walks, and seven strikeouts.[90] He pitched1+1⁄3 scoreless innings in relief in Game 7, as the Dodgers clinched the World Series championship to give him his first-career championship.[91]
Snell grew up aSeattle Mariners fan.[92] Hisnickname "Snellzilla" originally belonged to his oldest brother, but he seized it for himself at age eleven.[93]
Snell owned a home inSt. Petersburg, Florida, but sold it in 2021.[94][95] He resides inLynnwood, Washington.[96] Snell and Haeley Mar, his wife, had a son in June 2024, and another son in August 2025.[97]
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Major League Baseball Pitcher of the Month August—September 2018 June 2023 September 2023 August 2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher August 2, 2024 | Succeeded by |
