By Megan Garcia
Two-time Cy Young Award winner and first-season Dodger Blake Snell is far ahead of where he was this time last year.
And it’s showing.
“Blake looks great. You know, we’ve seen him from the other side many years, but just to see him work, it’s a very thoughtful way of working,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Obviously, the stuff is real.”
Snell missed the first five weeks of Spring Training in 2024 after a quiet free agency led to signing a contract with the Giants on March 19. He had to play catch-up in the three weeks leading up to his first start in April with the Giants.
That helped lead to this: A 9.15 ERA in six first-half starts and two trips to the injured list.
He was one of the best starting pitchers in the second half of the 2024 season. He led all Major League pitchers (minimum 10 starts) with a 1.45 second-half ERA and had the lowest opponents’ batting average (.133), slugging percentage (.189) and OPS (.412).
Snell is getting the full Spring Training experience with the Dodgers. He has thrown two bullpen sessions thus far at Camelback Ranch. He also was working out at the complex weeks prior to pitchers and catchers reporting.
“My bullpens have been good,” Snell said. “I haven’t really been focused on location. It’s more about: How do I feel as the ball comes out of my hand?”
He has the benefit of time this Spring Training and will use that as well to develop relationships with his batterymates in Will Smith and Austin Barnes and the pitching staff.
Thus far, he’s fitting in well and is eager to take the next steps.
“We’re all learning each other,” Snell said. “Once the hitters get in there (for live batting practice), that’s when I’ll really know where I’m at. I’ll challenge hitters more and that will tell me if I like (my mechanics) or don’t like it and where I need to get better.”
Dodgers camp stories: Blake Snell is feeling in a better place this spring was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.