Blake Snell impresses in rehab start with River Cats

May 17, 2024, 8:09 PM | Updated: 8:12 pm

(Sactown Sports)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

There was a Cy Young sighting on Friday night in Sacramento.

San Francisco Giants left-handed pitcher Blake Snell took the mound for the Sacramento River Cats on Friday night as he inches closer to returning from the injured list.

Snell, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 24th due to a left adductor strain, dominated the Oklahoma City Baseball Club (AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers) as the All-Star pitcher tossed five no-hit innings while striking out ten batters and walking one over 60 pitches (41 strikes).

The two-time Cy Young Award winner’s fastball touched 96 miles per hour as Oklahoma City batters struggled to put the ball in play throughout the afternoon.

Blake Snell is DEALING in Sacramento🔥

10 K
1 BB
0 R
0 H
5 IP

60 pitches (41 strikes)#SFGiants pic.twitter.com/nu9svALm3b

— Sactown Sports 1140 (@Sactown1140) May 18, 2024

Friday was Snell’s second rehab start over the past week, as the veteran delivered four shutout innings while striking out seven batters during his first appearance on Sunday afternoon with Single-A San Jose.

Five days later, Snell has finished his rehab process and will now set his sights on rejoining the Giants rotation within the next week.

More on SF Giants pitcher Blake Snell

Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, had yet to showcase his All-Star form before going down with an injury.

During his first three starts in a Giants uniform, Snell posted an 0-3 record and 11.57 ERA over 11.2 innings, striking out 12 batters and walking five.

It’s still early in the season, meaning that the southpaw has plenty of time to get back on the mound and help a San Francisco rotation currently ranked 26th in ERA (4.56) and 20th in strikeouts (364).

San Francisco’s roster has been decimated by injuries, with outfielders Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder) and Michael Conforto (hamstring), Snell (adductor), designated hitter Jorge Soler (shoulder), catchers Tom Murphy (knee) and Patrick Bailey (concussion), and shortstop Nick Ahmed (wrist) on the injured list.

With two rehab appearances under his belt, the 31-year-old is now set to join the Giants rotation when San Francisco begins a six-game east-coast road trip on Tuesday that features matchups against the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets.