Dodgers Demote Pitcher, Officially Activate Blake Snell After 3-Month Absence

Three months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow, left-handed pitcher Blake Snell is officially back.

On Tuesday, before the second of three games against the Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Dodgers have activated Snell off the 60-day injured list.

In order to make room on the 26-man roster, left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes was optioned. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen was transferred to the 60-day IL.

Dodgers Activate Blake Snell Off 60-Day Injured List

Snell, 33, is returning from a three-month absence that followed an even longer one.

The left-hander opened the season on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation stemming from last season. He sat out spring training and went on a rehab assignment in late April.

He finally returned on May 9 and pitched three innings against the Atlanta Braves, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits over three innings with five strikeouts.

Less than a week later, Snell was placed right back on the IL with loose bodies in his elbow. He underwent surgery and has been out ever since.

Snell began his rehab assignment on July 18, and made a total of four appearances, allowing four runs over 11.2 innings with 19 strikeouts.

Most importantly, he said he felt healthy — and as healthy as he's been in years.

“Probably the best I’ve felt in two years,” Snell said last month. “I’m pain-free. I always had some form of pain, but you just battle through it. I thought it was just going to be there forever. I was, ‘Alright, it’s something I’m just going to have to deal with. I’ll battle through it.’

"Then I had the surgery and as soon as I started throwing again I was, ‘Hey, my shoulder feels good.' I was in great spirits, just real happy."

The Dodgers are relying on Snell to make his once-a-week starts for the last seven weeks of the regular season. Then, they'll need him to play a critical role in the postseason, as he did last year.

In the 2025 postseason, Snell made six appearances (five starts), sporting a 3.18 ERA across 34 innings with 41 strikeouts. He pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief in Game 7 of the World Series.

“He’s on a mission,” manager Dave Roberts said of Snell this week. “I like when great, talented players have that mindset. He hasn’t, unfortunately, been a part of this whole season. But from here on out, it’s a sprint and he’s very focused and, like I said, he’s on a mission.”

Dodgers Transfer Blake Treinen to 60-Day Injured List, Option Charlie Barnes

As for the corresponding moves, the Dodgers have optioned Barnes back to Triple-A and transferred Treinen to the 60-day IL.

The Dodgers initially added Barnes off waivers from the Chicago Cubs in May. He's made a total of four appearances at the big league level and nine at the Triple-A level for the Dodgers.

He was recalled to the active roster ahead of Monday's game, but didn't pitch. Now, he's heading back to the minor leagues.

As for Treinen, he's been out since mid-June due to a right elbow injury. His 60 days on the IL will be up soon anyway, and he's still yet to start a rehab assignment. Thus, this move is just procedural.

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