Snell, 32, was born in Seattle, Washington and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. After debuting with Tampa Bay, Snell established himself as one of the game’s premier left-handed pitchers, earning the 2018 American League Cy Young Award. He later joined the San Diego Padres, capturing the National League Cy Young in 2023—a rare feat achieved by only a handful of pitchers in MLB history, such as Roger Clemens and Max Scherzer.
His 2023 campaign with San Diego was a career highlight, as Snell led the majors with a 2.25 ERA, recorded 234 strikeouts (third-most in MLB), and held opponents to a .181 batting average. Snell’s ability to dominate lineups was evident, ranking first in opponent slugging percentage and hits allowed per nine innings. He was recognized as The Sporting News’ 2023 National League Starter of the Year and received Pitcher of the Month honors in both June and September.
After becoming a free agent in November 2023, Snell signed a deal with the San Francisco Giants, where he pitched his first career no-hitter on August 2, 2024, striking out 11 batters against Cincinnati. This achievement made him only the fifth reigning Cy Young winner to throw a no-hitter, joining legends like Clayton Kershaw and Bob Gibson. Despite two stints on the injured list, Snell finished his lone Giants season with a 5-3 record and a 3.12 ERA over 20 starts.
On November 30, 2024, Snell agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking his fourth MLB club. As of the current season, Snell has accumulated over 1,400 career strikeouts and is earning $28.4 million annually on a five-year, $136.96 million contract, with a team option for a sixth year.
Despite his individual accolades, Snell has yet to win a World Series. However, his arrival in Los Angeles bolsters a rotation already featuring stars like Shohei Ohtani, and expectations are high for the Dodgers to contend for another championship. For more on his recent performances and live updates, visit Blake Snell’s ESPN profile and his official X account @snellzilla4. Snell’s combination of power pitching and postseason experience makes him a key asset as the Dodgers pursue another deep playoff run.