Shohei Ohtani celebrates 2x Cy Young award winner Blake Snell joining Dodgers' star-studded pitching rotation

Reigning World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers have added Blake Snell to their already power-packed rotation. The club signed the two-time Cy Young winner to a multi-year deal following his one-year stint with the San Francisco Giants.

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacted to Snell's arrival. On Tuesday, the two-way superstar shared a Dodgers post in collaboration with Snell, welcoming him to the team:

Shohei Ohtani instagram story

Shohei Ohtani, who only batted during the 2024 season, is scheduled to return to pitching in the upcoming season. The Japanese star is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He finished the year with a .310 batting average, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs and a 1.036 OPS.

Turning to Los Angeles' newest addition, Blake Snell signed a five-year contract worth $182 million, which the Dodgers announced on Saturday.

Snell had a solid 2024 season, recording five wins and three losses with a 3.12 ERA, 145 strikeouts and a 1.05 WHIP. He joins a stellar starting rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani.

The Dodgers are also expected to add another pitcher in the coming months, with Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki being one of the top targets.

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Blake Snell shares first message to the LA Dodgers after his addition to team

On Tuesday, Snell posted a picture of himself in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform on Instagram. On Saturday, he shared his first message to Dodgers fans after joining the team.

“What up, Dodger fans? It's Blake Snell here. Really excited to be a Dodger. Can't wait to win more championships with you guys and see you all at Dodger Stadium,” Snell said in a video message.

Snell signed a two-year, $62 million contract with the San Francisco Giants in March, which included an opt-out clause after the first year. On Nov. 1, he exercised the clause to become a free agent.

Snell has played for the San Diego Padres and the Tampa Bay Rays. While with the Padres in 2023, he led the MLB with a 2.25 ERA, recording 234 strikeouts in 180 innings. That year, he also earned his second Cy Young Award. His first had come in 2018 with the Rays, posting an impressive 1.89 ERA.