Blake Ashton Snell, born December 4, 1992, is a talented American professional baseball pitcher who is currently looking for a new contract. His Major League Baseball (MLB) career began when the Tampa Bay Rays drafted him in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft.
Snell made his MLB debut with the Rays in 2016 and won the prestigious American League (AL) Cy Young Award in 2018. He was named an All-Star after leading the league in both wins and earned run average (ERA) this season.
Who is Blake Snell?
Beyond his tenure with the Rays, Snell has also showcased his talent with the San Diego Padres. In 2023, he secured his second Cy Young Award while contributing significantly to the Padres. Hailing from Shoreline, Washington, Snell attended Shorewood High School, where he made a name for himself as a key player on the school’s baseball team.
During his high school years, he honed his skills at a training facility owned by his father, a former minor league baseball player. In his senior season at Shorewood High School, Snell’s exceptional performance was evident as he achieved a flawless 9–0 win–loss record, coupled with an impressive 1.00 ERA.
His pitching prowess was further highlighted by an astounding 128 strikeouts in over 63 innings pitched. This period not only marked the beginning of Snell’s baseball journey but also laid the foundation for the remarkable career that followed in the professional league.
The Tampa Bay Rays made a significant move in the 2011 Major League Baseball draught by selecting Snell in the first round. Snell began his professional career with the Gulf Coast Rays, where he appeared in 11 games and posted a 1-2 record with a 3.08 ERA. In the following season, 2012, he pitched for the Princeton Rays, where he went 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA in 11 starts.
Blake Snell Career Journey
Snell’s career progressed with varying degrees of success in different seasons. In 23 starts in 2013, he went 4-9 with a 4.27 ERA. However, 2014 was a watershed moment for him, as he was promoted to the Charlotte Stone Crabs in May.
Snell continued to rise through the minor league ranks and was promoted twice in the same year, first to the Durham Bulls and then to the Montgomery Biscuits. He pitched his way to a stellar 15–4 record with a 1.41 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP in 25 games, exhibiting incredible skill and consistency.
He earned a well-deserved spot on the Rays’ 40-man roster at the end of the season with this incredible performance. In 2016, Snell made his Yankee Stadium debut. It was an unforgettable moment as he retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced and struck out the side in the second inning.
Snell demonstrated his potential by finishing the 2016 season with a 6–8 record, a 3.54 ERA, and an astounding 98 strikeouts over 89 innings.
Blake Snell, wife: Is he married?
Yes! Blake Snell is married to Kristen Ganhart, a former University of South Florida softball player. The couple married in November 2018 after getting engaged in April 2017.
Snell and Ganhart first met at the University of South Florida. Snell and Ganhart were both student-athletes, with Snell playing baseball and Ganhart softball. They began dating in 2015 and married three years later. Snell and Ganhart keep their relationship private, but they do share photos of each other on social media on occasion. They are from Tampa, Florida.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLTBmqqeZpOkunCuy5qinmWjo7KtuIywoJ%2BdXZ7AbrTEZqSaqqKesqV7