ONTARIO, California — Blake Snell stood on the mound at LoanMart Field, the Triple-A home of the Oklahoma City Dodgers, and for the first time in weeks, he felt something he had been desperately searching for: control. The two-time Cy Young Award winner completed his second rehab start Sunday, throwing 60 pitches over three innings, and afterward, he did not mince words about what is working and what still needs fixing. Snell allowed two runs on three hits, striking out four and walking one, but his focus was not on the box score. It was on a single pitch that has eluded him all season: his curveball.
The left-hander, who signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason, has been sidelined since spring training with a hamstring injury. His first rehab start last week was a struggle, as he admitted he was too impatient and tried to force results. This time, he said, the approach was different. I felt really good and felt like in control, Snell told reporters after the game. I was a little more aggressive to get results. But the curveball, he emphasized, remains a work in progress. I really got to get the curve ball going. When I get that pitch going, it makes pitching a lot easier.
Snell’s outing was a mix of dominance and frustration. He pumped fastballs in the upper 90s, striking out the side in the first inning, but his breaking ball lacked the sharp bite that has made him one of the most feared pitchers in baseball. The third inning, he said, was more about development of the pitch. That was pretty frustrating for me. He threw extra curveballs in the bullpen after his outing, trying to regain the feel. The Dodgers, known for their meticulous approach to player health, are not rushing him. Snell said the team has been clear about their timeline: they want him fully ready before he returns to the major league rotation.
The next step is likely another rehab start, possibly at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where Snell will face tougher competition. He threw 60 pitches Sunday, up from 45 in his first start, and he expects to ramp up to around 75 to 80 pitches next time. I thought I was going to be more patient, but I was definitely a little more aggressive to get it going, he said. I feel really good. So, yeah, excited about it. The Dodgers have not set a specific date for his return, but Snell indicated that the team will tell him when he is ready. They’ll tell me, he said with a shrug. Sounds great, right?
The crowd at LoanMart Field was a sea of blue, with Dodgers fans making the short drive from Los Angeles to Ontario to watch Snell’s progress. They cheered his every pitch, and before the game, the stadium played a video tribute to him. Snell admitted the gesture caught him off guard. It might have made me like WTF, he said, laughing. But I prefer Hendrickk. You know, he’s a lot better. He was referring to teammate Kyle Hendricks, who is also on the injured list. The fans also got a treat: Snell bought everyone a $5 beer, a tradition he started earlier in his career. I’ve done before, so I wasn’t scared to do it again, he said. I heard it and I was like, Okay, I’m going to throw three fast balls to see if you can hit it.
Snell’s rehab has been a careful balancing act between patience and aggression. He acknowledged that his first start was a lesson in restraint. The first one is about patience, he said. You know, not trying to, you know, you want to do good, sell backs. It’s been a while being hurt. But after feeling good in the bullpen before Sunday’s game, he decided to push harder. How do you balance that patience with aggression in this rehab process? Feel, trust, he said. Knowing if is it smart, not smart, how do you feel, where you at? Just really talking to yourself and figuring out, you know, how I feel. And I felt really good.
The Dodgers have been cautious with Snell, and he appreciates their approach. They’re taking their time for sure, he said. We got to get past this and I need to be out there and stay out there. So we’ve had good meetings and they do it the right way. I mean, they’ve been really good with me and it’s been tough because I’ve been wanting to push them, but there’s a reason why they’re the Dodgers. They’re really good at everything. Snell’s injury history includes a groin issue last season that he pitched through during the postseason, when he was dominant, posting a 1.23 ERA in three starts. He said that experience taught him the value of patience. Last year, I came into the season feeling good, I was just rushing because I was so excited, he said. First year as a Dodger was hard not to be excited about it. And then I took the rehab process seriously and I was patient with it. And when I got to the postseason, that’s when I was like, man, battle. This is why I came here.
Snell’s desire to rejoin his teammates is palpable. He has been active on social media, cheering for the Dodgers from afar, and he said he misses the camaraderie of the clubhouse. I love rooting for them, he said. I love their success. I definitely want to contribute and I feel like I’m a big part of the team and I want to help badly so I can’t wait. But I’m going to be patient and make sure I do everything the right way and then when it’s my time, I’ll be ready. He specifically mentioned missing the starting pitchers, his guys, and singled out young players like Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone. I love messing with young man and she for sure, he said, referring to Miller and Stone.
The ballpark itself impressed Snell, who called it unreal. It’s not a LA stadium, he said. It is Triple A. It was nice. The stadium, which opened in 2024, features modern amenities and a capacity of about 10,000. Snell said he would recommend it to anyone coming to Ontario. It’s beautiful, he said. Enjoy it. It’s nice. When asked if any fans tried to negotiate a trade for food, he laughed. Not since Toronto, he said, referencing a past incident. What would it take to get a bowl from you here? I don’t know. I’m going home, so chances are low.
Snell’s postgame comments also revealed his sense of humor. When a reporter noted that he had gone to Chipotle after the game, Snell grinned. Why Chipotle? It’s good food, man, he said. They got dinner, too. I like it. But beneath the lighthearted moments, Snell’s focus remains sharp. He knows that the Dodgers, who lead the National League West, need him healthy for a deep playoff run. The team’s rotation has been solid, but adding a two-time Cy Young winner could be the difference between a division title and a World Series championship. Snell’s curveball, when it is working, is one of the most devastating pitches in baseball. Without it, he is still effective but not elite.
The timeline for Snell’s return remains fluid. He will likely make one more rehab start, possibly at Triple-A Oklahoma City, before the Dodgers evaluate his readiness. The team has not set a date, but Snell said he expects to throw around 60 pitches next week. I think they’re in Austin, he said of the team’s upcoming road trip. Yeah, I think they’re in Austin. The Dodgers are scheduled to play a series against the Texas Rangers next week, and Snell could join them for a bullpen session or a simulated game. But for now, he is focused on the curveball. This week, really going to focus on that, he said. And I’m really going to focus on commanding the ball, the fast ball, better. Going to face triple AAA hitters, I’ll need that a lot more.
Snell’s journey back to the mound has been a test of mental and physical resilience. He admitted that the offseason was tough, and he did everything he could to prepare. But the hamstring injury, which he suffered during a spring training game, set him back. He has been working with the Dodgers’ training staff to strengthen the area and ensure he does not re-injure it. The team’s cautious approach has frustrated him at times, but he understands the necessity. They’re really good at everything, he said. So I trust them.
As Snell walked off the field Sunday, he waved to the fans who had come to see him. The ovation was loud, a reminder of the expectations that come with being a Dodger. Snell, who won the Cy Young Award in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays and again in 2023 with the San Diego Padres, knows what he can bring to this team. He has been through the grind of a long season, the pressure of the postseason, and the disappointment of injury. Now, he is ready to contribute again. I’ll be patient, he said. But I can’t wait.
The Dodgers will take their time with Snell, but the clock is ticking. The trade deadline is approaching, and the team could look to add another arm if Snell’s return is delayed. But for now, the plan is clear: get Snell healthy, get his curveball back, and let him do what he does best. The fans in Ontario got a glimpse of that Sunday, and they liked what they saw. The curveball will come, Snell said. It always does.
