Blake Snell is anxious to begin spring training, especially after having a short spring last season.
But one more added layer to his first season with the Los Angeles is his plan to mentor Bobby Miller as he aims to bounce back after a horrendous 2024.
Miller’s season was confusing to say the least. He struck out 11 over six scoreless innings in his season debut against the St. Louis Cardinals. It all went downhill after that.
His shoulder started acting up, throwing his mechanics out of sync. He gave up seven runs over his next two starts before landing on the injured list.
After a brief stint in the minors, he returned for 10 starts but struggled with a 9.34 ERA, allowing opposing hitters to post a 1.014 OPS. Once viewed as a key part of the Dodgers’ future, he became an afterthought even as the team desperately searched for pitching help.
“I think you saw Bobby’s first outing and you’re like, ‘This guy might compete for the Cy Young,’” general manager Brandon Gomes told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
“I don’t think he was leading on, he wasn’t talking about it,” Gomes said of Miller’s shoulder, which he says is fully healthy now. “I think it affected him more than he will actually admit. Then coming off of that injury it was just a long time of getting back to his delivery, his different cues. I think a full, healthy offseason talking through some delivery cues, potential adjustments, I think will be something we get into this offseason.”
Snell, who signed a five-year, $182 million deal with the Dodgers this winter, has seen his career fluctuate over the years. He went from winning the American League Cy Young in 2018 going 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA to a 6-8 record and 4.29 ERA in 2019.
Joining the Dodgers is something that Snell has thought about for quite some time and he’s ready to win the World Series title that has eluded him.
“When you look at the team, you look at what they’ve built, what they’re doing, it’s just something you want to be a part of,” Snell said at his introductory press conference. “Look at the first three hitters in the lineup. It’s tough to go against. So to be on the other side and know they’re going to be hitting for me, it’s pretty exciting.”
He added: “I don’t think there’s a better situation that you could be in than being right here.”
