Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher Blake Snell is taking things slow heading into the 2026 season, but on Tuesday, fans got some positive news.
On Monday, Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register reported that Snell, who’s been dealing with a shoulder injury, is “pain-free and starting his throwing program, with the goal of throwing from a mound in some capacity this week.”
That moment didn’t take long, with Snell pitching from the mound later that day, reported David Vassegh of SportsNet LA.
“Blake Snell making taking next steps in progression threw off the mound yesterday with catcher standing up,” he wrote on social media.
Blake Snell making taking next steps in progression threw off the mound yesterday with catcher standing up. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) March 10, 2026 Where Has Blake Snell Been During Spring Training?
Snell has been at Camelback Ranch with the Dodgers this spring, but he hasn’t been pitching off the mound.
Before Monday, he’d been limited to throwing on flat ground in an attempt to avoid the shoulder pain that cost him much of last season.
As a result, he’s unlikely to be ready to pitch to start the season.
“But I’m just going to take my time,” he said at DodgerFest. “Last year, I was rushing. I wanted to pitch so bad. But I’m going to take my time. The goal is to be ready Opening Day, but I’m going to take my time. I’ll know more once I’m [at Spring Training], throwing bullpens, pitching in games.
“Last year, I had so much to prove. I got way too excited and was really pushing to get to spring, get through spring. This year, I’m going to be a little slower just in how I ramp up — be a lot more smarter on that.”
May 2, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) on the bench against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesHow Do the Dodgers Feel About Blake Snell’s Slow Start?
Manager Dave Roberts has said the team plans to give Snell the time he needs to be ready and healthy.
“Time’s ticking, but like I told him the other day, Opening Day is not necessarily a hard and fast target for us,” Roberts said, as reported by The Athletic’s Katie Woo.
As for when he will return to action, that remains to be seen.
The hope is a short-term sacrifice of Snell missing the start of the season allows him to play the rest of the year pain-free.
LA Baseball Report
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