Blake Snell has new surgical procedure expected to expedite Dodgers return

SAN DIEGO –– Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell had three loose bone spurs removed from his elbow on Tuesday via a new, less-invasive surgical procedure that is expected to help expedite his process to return.

According to a source, Snell’s surgery utilized a new medical device called the NanoNeedle 2.0, which is a smaller version of a traditional arthroscope that can cut up to a month off the typical recovery time from such operations.

After beginning the season on the IL, Blake Snell pitched in one game this season before heading back to the IL with ‘loose bodies’ in his elbow. AP

Snell was originally placed on the injured list last week after being diagnosed with loose bodies in his elbow.

Normally, such an injury can take 2-3 months to recover from –– as is the case with Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz (who had a traditional loose-body removal in April, and isn’t expected back until the second half of the season).

The kind of surgery Snell had, however, might drastically cut down his timeline to return.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner became the second MLB pitcher in recent weeks to have the NanoNeedle procedure.

Earlier this month, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal became the first known major-leaguer to have such an operation; which has since been nicknamed around the sport as the so-called “SkubalScope.”

Skubal had his surgery on May 6, but has already resumed a throwing program and could be ready to return in as little as six weeks.

Reigning AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal was 3-2 this season with a 2.70 ERA in 43.1 innings this season. AP

Snell’s exact timeline remains unclear, but both manager Dave Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes said in recent days they were hopeful he would be back quicker than usual.

“Hopefully it’s the shorter timeline,” Gomes said Monday. “That’s the hope and expectation right now. Obviously, we don’t know 100% until they’re in there, but that’s what we’re expecting.”

Tuesday was the second time in Snell’s career that he underwent surgery to remove loose bodies. In 2019, he missed almost two months while playing with the Tampa Bay Rays after undergoing the traditional version of the procedure.

The location of the bone spurs in Snell’s elbow this time made him a candidate for the NanoNeedle method. His surgery was performed by head team physician and renowned sports surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who also did Skubal’s surgery.