Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Blake Snell will have surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow on Tuesday, May 19, according to Bleacher Report. The MLB Injury Report notes the 15-day IL placement was back-dated to May 12, meaning the earliest Snell could return is May 27.
Snell debuted on May 6, tossing six innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven before elbow pain resurfaced. His ERA sits at 4.50, while the Dodgers’ rotation sits at a collective 3.80 ERA. Those numbers reveal how a single arm can tip a staff’s balance.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner’s injury represents a significant blow to a Dodgers rotation that had finally achieved full health after months of careful management. Los Angeles entered the season with championship aspirations, pairing Snell’s veteran presence with Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a record 12-year, $325 million deal this offseason. The addition of Snell, who won his second Cy Young with the San Diego Padres in 2023, gave the Dodgers what many analysts considered the most formidable starting five in the National League.
How did Snell’s injury develop?
Loose bodies in a pitcher’s elbow have become a recurring theme this season, with Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal also undergoing surgery for the same problem. Snell’s elbow pain surfaced during spring training, prompting a cautious approach that delayed his debut until May 6.
The 31-year-old left-hander experienced discomfort during his final spring training outing, leading the Dodgers’ medical staff to shut him down for additional evaluation. An MRI revealed the presence of loose bodies—small fragments of bone or cartilage that can cause pain and impinge movement when they lodge in the joint. Rather than opting for immediate surgery, the organization chose a conservative treatment approach, including rest and anti-inflammatory medication, hoping Snell could pitch through the discomfort.
That strategy proved only temporarily successful. After his May 6 debut against the Miami Marlins, where he showed encouraging stuff but admitted to experiencing pain during his warm-up throws between innings, the decision was made to address the issue surgically. The arthroscopic procedure will clean out the joint and remove the fragments, a relatively common surgery for pitchers that typically carries a 4-6 week recovery timeline.
What are the exact details of Snell’s surgery and IL stint?
According to the report, Snell will undergo an arthroscopic procedure to extract the fragments and clean the joint. His IL stint was back-dated to May 12, activating a 15-day minimum stay on the injured list. The Dodgers placed him on the list on Tuesday, removing him from the Friday start against the Angels.
The back-dating of the IL placement is significant for roster flexibility. By placing Snell on the IL effective May 12, the Dodgers gained an additional roster spot for nearly a week, allowing them to carry an extra bullpen arm during a stretch where they faced division rivals. This strategic roster management reflects the modern approach to injured list utilization, where teams maximize every available roster spot during competitive windows.
Key Developments
- Snell’s surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, and is expected to be arthroscopic.
- The Dodgers officially placed Snell on the 15-day injured list on May 12, back-dating his absence.
- Snell had been slated to start the Friday series opener versus the Los Angeles Angels before the IL move.
- Los Angeles also dealt with elbow surgeries to Edwin Díaz and Tarik Skubal earlier this season, underscoring a league-wide trend.
- Snell’s earliest possible return date is May 27, giving the Dodgers a narrow window to adjust the rotation.
- The Dodgers’ rotation entered the week with a collective 3.80 ERA, ranking among the top five starting staffs in baseball.
- Snell’s 4.50 ERA through his lone start was higher than his career average of 3.74, partially due to rust from the delayed debut.
Impact and What’s Next for the Dodgers
Blake Snell’s absence forces Los Angeles to lean on rookie right-hander Ryne Stanek and swing-man Ben Joyce to fill the fifth-starter role. The front office brass will likely shuffle the rotation, pushing Walker Buehler back into the mix if he stays healthy. While the loss hurts the Dodgers’ immediate depth, it also opens a spot for a promising arm to showcase durability. Analysts caution that over-reliance on surgery-prone elbows could affect long-term roster construction, but the club’s depth should mitigate a short-term dip.
Ryne Stanek, 28, has made 47 career starts across six MLB seasons with the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Mets. The former third-round pick features a power fastball that sits in the mid-90s but has struggled with command throughout his career, posting a career 4.31 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Ben Joyce, 23, represents more of an unknown commodity. The hard-throwing right-hander was selected in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft and has yet to make his major league debut, though his triple-digit fastball velocity has generated buzz throughout the organization.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts faces a delicate balancing act. With the rotation now requiring adjustment, the organization must determine whether to promote Joyce for his first MLB exposure or rely on the more experienced Stanek in a spot-start capacity. The decision will likely depend on the health of the rest of the rotation, particularly Yamamoto, who has already exceeded 60 innings this season after missing significant time last year with a arm injury of his own.
The Yamamoto situation adds another layer of complexity. The Japanese ace, who dominated in his first MLB season with the Orix Buffaloes before signing with Los Angeles, has already logged 62.1 innings this year—more than many projected workloads for early June. The Dodgers carefully managed his spring training innings following his arrival from Japan, and the organization will need to monitor his workload carefully to avoid fatigue or injury as the season progresses.
Walker Buehler’s potential return provides the most significant boost to the rotation’s depth. The 2021 All-Star has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery that ended his 2022 season early and limited him to just 12 starts in 2023. Buehler looked sharp in his rehabilitation assignments, touching 97 mph with his fastball and showing the same electric stuff that made him one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers before his injury. If Buehler can return to form, the Dodgers’ rotation would feature Yamamoto, Buehler, and a returning Snell—forming a formidable trio that could carry the team deep into October.
Blake Snell’s elbow saga illustrates a broader pattern in the MLB Injury Report: pitchers with loose-body issues are seeing a spike this year. Since the season began, at least eight pitchers have required arthroscopic removal of fragments, a number that climbs as teams push harder early in the schedule. The numbers reveal a correlation between high-velocity workloads and joint irritation, prompting several clubs to reconsider pitch-count strategies. For the Dodgers, the decision to place Snell on the 15-day IL rather than the 60-day list reflects confidence that his recovery will be swift, yet it also highlights the thin margin between a healthy rotation and a reshuffled staff.
The league-wide trend toward elbow surgeries has prompted discussions about pitch design, workload management, and the long-term health of pitchers. Several teams have begun implementing stricter pitch count limits and mandatory rest days, while others have invested heavily in biomechanical analysis to identify early warning signs of arm stress. The Dodgers, who employ one of the most sophisticated player development programs in baseball, have not been immune to these issues—Edwin Díaz’s elbow surgery earlier this season marked the second significant injury to a key member of their bullpen.
For now, the focus remains on Snell’s recovery and the Dodgers’ ability to navigate his absence. With a 15-day window before his potential return, Los Angeles must hold serve in the rotation while maintaining their position in the competitive National League West race. The team’s depth—acquired through years of strategic drafting and aggressive free agency—will be tested, but the early returns suggest they have the pieces to weather this storm.
When is Blake Snell expected to be back on the mound?
Based on the 15-day IL rule and the back-dated start date of May 12, Snell could be activated as early as May 27, assuming a smooth recovery.
How many innings did Snell pitch before his injury?
Snell logged six innings in his season debut on May 6, giving up two runs before the elbow issue was identified.
Which other pitchers have undergone the same elbow procedure this season?
Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz and Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal both had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies, mirroring Snell’s situation.
What does Snell’s injury mean for the Dodgers’ playoff chances?
Losing a top-five starter raises the rotation’s ERA average, but the depth of the bullpen and the potential return of Walker Buehler keep the Dodgers in the Wild Card race (analysis).
How does the MLB IL rule affect a player’s service time?
Players placed on the 15-day IL earn service time for each day on the list, which can slightly boost their arbitration eligibility, though it does not count toward free-agency thresholds (analysis).