During the offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers constructed a promising starting rotation, adding Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki to join Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Los Angeles also anticipates Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw’s return to the mound, as both players are rehabbing.
The Dodgers’ biggest splash of the winter was signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract.
After making his first two starts with Los Angeles, the lefty was placed on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation. Snell started the season strong, allowing two earned runs in five innings on March 27 against the Detroit Tigers, and he threw four scoreless innings in his last outing against the Atlanta Braves on April 2.
On Thursday, Dodgers Nation reported that manager Dave Roberts met with reporters and said that Snell played catch for the first time since the shoulder injury, making 20-30 throws at 90 feet. However, there’s no timetable for his return.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (7) throws during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“I don’t know exactly,” Roberts told reporters when asked when he believes Snell might return, per Dodgers Nation. “I think just kind of how he’s feeling, the recovery, the progression. The throw looked good, his arm action was clean. He said he felt better than expected.”
Roberts noted that whether Snell makes a rehab appearance at Triple-A Oklahoma City before his return to the major league level depends on how long it takes the shoulder soreness to subside.
Snell throwing at 90 feet without any reported problems may be great news for the Dodgers, who are likely anxious to watch their ace retake the mound.
The 32-year-old veteran entered this season with the Dodgers after five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, three with the San Diego Padres, and one with the San Francisco Giants. Snell is MLB’s all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings, 11.2.
