Blake Snell faces hitters for first time, latest step in rehab

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up in the outfield during batting practice before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Blake Snell pitched a simulated inning on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, facing hitters for the first time this year, the latest step in his rehab from starting the season on the sideline with shoulder fatigue.

Snell threw about 15 pitches on Saturday, facing Tommy Edman (the switch-hitter batted both right-handed and left-handed) and Alex Call on the field about four hours before the scheduled first pitch of the Dodgers’ game against the Texas Rangers.

After an offseason of mostly resting his arm, Snell was well behind during spring training, such that he didn’t even throw a bullpen session until March 12. He’s been throwing off and on since, but Saturday was his first time facing hitters.

“I’m very excited about how I feel, where I’m at. Getting back to some normalcy again feels really good,” Snell said Saturday. “Throwing bullpens, not facing hitters, it’s tough to stay locked in.”

This is essentially the early part of spring training for Snell, who is expected to face hitters in a two-inning simulated outing at some point next week. Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that he wasn’t sure if Snell would need two or three more such outings before going on a minor league rehab assignment.

“This one for me, personally, is just an exercise. I’m not really looking for command, to be quite honest,” Roberts said. “Just getting out there, competing against hitters, and just trying to get through the, call it 20-pitch exercise.”

Roberts on the last homestand targeted roughly the end of May for Snell’s potential return to the Dodgers rotation, and Saturday’s simulated inning falls in line with that plan. Let’s assume at minimum, Snell would have two more simulated outings followed by three minor league starts, with five days rest in between each one. That would put his last rehab start 30 days from now, on May 11, with his potential return to the Dodgers another six or seven days after that. Adding in a fourth rehab start would push his return into the final week of May.

The Dodgers have shown patience with the top of their rotation before, like last season when Snell missed nearly four months on the injured list before returning for the last two months of the regular season and all postseason. Same for Tyler Glasnow, who missed over two months before returning to the rotation last July.

Take Saturday for what it was, a positive next step for Snell.

“I talked to him yesterday a little bit in the dugout, and he’s getting antsy,” Roberts said. “But I think he’s just excited because he feels strong, he feels healthy. He’s been working on his diet and stuff, so he’s in a good spot.”