The Dodgers slow rolled Blake Snell\u2019s throwing program this offseason, and as a result, he has yet to log a single inning of spring action.<\/p>\n
Snell finally threw his first bullpen session one month removed from both pitchers and catchers reporting to camp, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com<\/a>, but he wasn\u2019t throwing at maximum effort during that 15-pitch session. The likelihood of him getting some innings under his belt this spring is virtually non-existent, and he is guaranteed to be out for the opening series of the regular season against the Arizona Diamondbacks.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Snell remarked that it would \u201cbe sick\u201d if he is able to make his 2026 debut by late April, but for both Snell and the Dodgers alike, patience is still the most important virtue surrounding his progress as the team looks to get a healthier version of the two-time Cy Young award winner.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a good step in the right direction,\u201d Roberts said, \u201cin the sense of getting on the slope, on the mound. \u2026 This is not a max-effort bullpen. So yeah, he\u2019s on the mound, which is great, but until he\u2019s kind of going full steam ahead, then we really don\u2019t know what we\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Snell spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA<\/a> following his bullpen session, noting that he only topped out at 89 miles per hour but acknowledged that it felt effortless.<\/p>\n \u201cI was very excited to throw off the mound again and pitch. I\u2019d been looking forward to this for a while\u2026 I was still limited to what I could throw. I was throwing 87 to 89 [miles per hour], but felt effortless, easy, good command of the ball, so I\u2019m happy with that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Links<\/p>\n All the pomp and circumstance that came with the Dodgers two consecutive championships have come and gone, as the number one priority for the team is to become the first MLB team to three-peat in 26 years. Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez, who played a pivotal role in both World Series runs, spoke with the media on Thursday<\/a> about the mindset of going for a third consecutive title.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just trying to win this year. We already won the last two years, and that doesn\u2019t do anything for us other than put a target on our backs. We\u2019re trying to win this year, and if we win this year then it just so happens to be three years in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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