Blake Snell made significant progress on Tuesday by throwing a bullpen session before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Snell got up to 15 pitches at about 70% intensity. It was his first bullpen session since April before getting shut down due to lingering left shoulder discomfort.
“It felt good. I was excited too, because I threw the first couple bullpens with the catcher up. Really good,” Snell said of throwing off a mound.
Snell is still in the early stages of his recovery and has mostly been focusing on his mechanics. “Just feel. Feeling good, getting my rhythm and timing, and syncing up,” Snell explained.
The left-hander made just two starts for the Dodgers before going on the injured list after attempting to pitch through the shoulder trouble. He recently said it has been difficult not being able to contribute to the Dodgers and would like to return as soon as possible.
Snell believes he is now on the right track after an encouraging last couple of weeks. “Probably better,” Snell said of the condition he is in compared to a month ago.
“For a while I had no idea. It just hurt every time I threw a baseball. I was kind of nervous, because I never felt that. So I didn’t really know what was going on. Probably two weeks ago, I started to play catch with no pain, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ I started getting happy and excited. Like, ‘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 the offseason. So I was real confused. Now, very confident, feel great.
“The bullpen was really good. I actually have an idea of what I’m going to do, so it’s exciting. I think I can kind of push a little bit, but they’re also going to push back. Hoping to be back sooner than later, and get going. I think the next bullpen will be fastballs and then hopefully I could throw a changeup or something.
“Start pushing that and find a way back. As long as I’m throwing like this, and I feel healthy and good, I don’t see why not. I think they’ll agree with me and move forward.”
Blake Snell feeling more confident after bullpen session
Snell also said he is now in a better headspace after a successful bullpen session.
“Yeah, because I can do something,” he began.
“Early on, I knew I couldn’t do anything. Then you have to hear, ‘When are you going to pitch?’ every day. It gets exhausting. I have no idea. It’s the fans, your family. My dad texts me every day, ‘Are you going to pitch? Are you going to pitch?’ I don’t know what to do. It’s just what you go through.
“But I’m very excited. After this ‘pen, I know the ramp-up is going to start and I can start pitching. I know I’m going to be a factor on the team again, and I’m very excited about that.”
Next for Snell is another bullpen session on Friday, which is expected to be 20 pitches.
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