Blake Snell
A left-handed pitcher whose electric stuff and baffling command issues have made him one of baseball's most unpredictable and dominant Cy Young winners.
Born 1992 (age 34)·American baseball pitcher·Birthday: December 4·Millennials
Biography
Blake Snell's career is a study in tantalizing extremes. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, the Seattle-area native rocketed through the minors on the strength of a vicious fastball-slider combination that left hitters flailing. His 2018 season was a masterpiece of modern pitching: he led the American League in wins and ERA, capturing the Cy Young Award despite rarely working deep into games, a testament to his sheer, unhittable stuff. Traded to San Diego, he battled inconsistency but would again reach the pinnacle, winning the 2023 National League Cy Young with the Padres. Snell's outings are events, often walking a tightrope between strikeout barrages and high pitch counts, yet his ability to escape jams and dominate lineups at his peak remains unparalleled.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Blake was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Blake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Blake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays, posting a league-best 1.89 ERA.
- Captured the National League Cy Young Award in 2023 with the San Diego Padres, leading the league in ERA (2.25).
- Pitched in the World Series for the Rays in 2020, starting Game 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Struck out 21 batters in a single game for the Triple-A Durham Bulls in 2016, one shy of the International League record.
- Named an MLB All-Star in 2018 and 2023.
Did You Know?
His father, Dave Snell, was a former minor league pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization.
He is an avid gamer and has streamed himself playing popular video games like Call of Duty.
He famously does not like to look at the scoreboard during his starts, preferring to focus solely on the catcher's mitt.
He was traded from the San Diego Padres to the San Francisco Giants in March 2024, then signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers just days later.
“I just try to compete. I don't care about the walks, I don't care about the hits. I just care about getting outs.”
