Giants send LHP Blake Snell on rehab assignment

The San Francisco Giants sent reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on a rehab assignment, with his first minor league outing scheduled for Sunday with Single-A San Jose.

Snell was signed by the Giants late in spring training after winning the Cy Young as a member of the San Diego Padres last season. After a late ramp-up to get ready for major league games, Snell made just three starts before he went on the injured list April 24 with a left adductor strain.

There isn't a designated number of rehab outings that Snell will need before he returns.

With an 0-3 record and an 11.57 ERA to start the season for San Francisco, he was nowhere near the form that led him to a 14-9 record and a 2.25 ERA in 32 starts for San Diego last season.

In nine major league seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants, Snell is 71-58 with a 3.30 ERA in 194 career starts and has an 11.1 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio.

Snell had a similar injury twice in his career, missing about a month in 2021 and three weeks in 2022. At the time he went on the IL in April, he was optimistic about a relatively quick return.

"I don't think it's as bad as what they say," Snell said at the time, hoping he would be out only two weeks after his 15-day IL stint ran its course.

"But it's the groin so I have no clue," Snell said.

Snell signed a two-year, $62 million deal in March. It includes a player option after the 2024 season.