Blake Snell Leaves United States on Saturday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Nov 22, 2025 8:56 PM ET

Blake Snell had a rollercoaster debut season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 32-year-old left-hander signed a five-year, $182 million deal in November 2024, the first major move of that offseason.

Snell’s goal was to win a World Series title, and he accomplished it by playing a central role in the team’s quest for back-to-back championships. He appeared in six games during the 2025 postseason, securing three wins while posting a 3.18 ERA and striking out 41 batters across 34 innings.

His regular season, however, was disappointing, as he made only 11 appearances while missing significant time due to left shoulder inflammation. Even so, Snell managed to finish the year on top, helping deliver another championship to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (7) © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

As Snell prepares for his second year with the Dodgers, he has been enjoying his offseason in Los Angeles while celebrating the first ring of his MLB career. Throughout November, Snell showed support for other sports teams in the city, attending a Lakers game, a Kings game and a Rams game at their respective stadiums.

He also made an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” alongside manager Dave Roberts and several teammates, further embracing the spotlight that comes with being a champion in Los Angeles. Snell has continued to stream daily on his Twitch channel, playing NBA 2K and enjoying his time away from baseball.

On Saturday, Snell announced that he would be leaving the United States. In a post on Instagram, he shared a slideshow that included his passport, hinting that his next trip would be international. The caption read, “Where y’all think I’m headed to? ”

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For Snell, the 2025 season marked the first time he truly experienced team success at the highest level. He is a one-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner who has spent ten seasons in the majors, debuting with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016. He also pitched for the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants before signing his deal with Los Angeles.

Known for his electric fastball and devastating breaking pitches, Snell has long been considered one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in baseball, capable of overpowering hitters when healthy. While injuries have limited his consistency, his ability to miss bats and rise to the occasion in October finally paid off with the Dodgers, giving him the championship validation his career had been missing.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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