Blake Snell is now preparing for his inaugural season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team he’s long faced as an opponent. He began his professional career with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he first established his reputation. His breakout season came in 2016, leading to his first Cy Young Award in 2018. Subsequently, prior to the 2021 season, Snell was traded to the San Diego Padres. He further solidified his standing as an elite pitcher by winning his second Cy Young Award in 2023.
In 2024, Snell joined the San Francisco Giants, another National League West franchise. This move set the stage for divisional matchups against his former team, the San Diego Padres. However, his tenure with the Giants proved short-lived, as he subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025. This latest move places Snell on his third NL West team, ensuring he will regularly face both the Padres and the Giants throughout each season.
Blake Snell Names Biggest Difference Between Los Angeles Dodgers And San Francisco Giants
According to Rob Nightengale, Blake Snell is now navigating the transition to being on the opposite side of these familiar rivalries. Snell remarked on the difference between playing for the Dodgers and his previous teams.
“The first time putting on a Dodger uniform, so I was definitely excited about that,” Snell said. “I think pitching in front of fans again is really exciting.”
The Dodgers topped Major League Baseball last season and given the excitement surrounding this year’s team that trend will continue. Last season the Giants ranked 12th in total attendance. The Padres didn’t have issues filling their stadiums in Snell’s tenure — ranking in the top 5 in each of his three seasons, including finishing second in 2023.
While the Dogders’ attendance dwarfed the Giants last season, Snell saw the worst crowd sizes in Tampa Bay, which routinely landed in the bottom three in the league during his tenure. Data for the Rays 2020 World Series run was not kept due to COVID-19.