Los Angeles Dodgers received a major boost on June 13, 2025, as star pitcher Blake Snell announced he’s pain-free after a frustrating shoulder issue that landed him on the injured list since April 6. The two-time Cy Young winner, a cornerstone of the Dodgers’ $182 million offseason signing, shared his optimism ahead of a pivotal NL West showdown, igniting excitement among fans and trending on X.
“For a while, I had no idea. It just hurt every time I threw a baseball,” Snell said this week. “I was kinda nervous, because I’ve never felt that. So I didn’t really know what was going on. And then like two weeks ago, I started to actually play catch with no pain. And I was like, wow. I started getting happy and excited. I think we can start moving. I don’t feel anything. All before that, every time I touched the baseball, the second I threw it, I could feel it. If it wasn’t the front, it was the back. If it wasn’t the back or the front, it was the side. It was just weird. I never felt that, even in my offseason. So I was just real confused. But now, very confident, feel great.”
Initially placed on the 15-day injured list, Snell was shifted to the 60-day list on May 17 after making just two starts in 2025, where he pitched nine innings, allowed seven runs (two earned), and struck out four. The left-hander, who boasts the highest career strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with 1,000+ innings, has been throwing low-intensity bullpens. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior praised his progress: “Seeing Blake today live in front of us was great. His arm looks, for the first time probably all year, free and easy.”
Snell’s recovery is a lifeline for the injury-ravaged Dodgers, with 14 pitchers currently sidelined. Holding a slim half-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West, L.A. faces the Giants in a three-game series starting Friday, June 13, followed by a four-game clash with the San Diego Padres. Snell’s return could fortify a rotation desperate for stability, boosting their World Series aspirations.
Signed to a five-year, $182 million deal, Snell brings elite credentials, including Cy Young Awards in 2018 (AL) and 2023 (NL with Padres). His potential comeback has fans buzzing, with #SnellReturn trending. Can Snell reclaim his dominant form and push the Dodgers (41-28) to NL West supremacy? Follow the action on X and MLB.com for the latest on this game-changing recovery!