‘There’s No Better University, I Promise You That,’ Cy Young Award Winner Tells Huskies
Brian Tom
1/30/2020
Before the Diamond Dawgs took the field on Thursday at Husky Ballpark, 2018 Cy Young Award winner and current Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell worked out before meeting and speaking to the UW pitching staff.
Just after the New Year, Snell left his offseason home in Lynnwood, Wash., to train in Florida to prepare for spring training, but personal business called him home for a few days. He needed a place to train and UW Coach Lindsay Meggs welcomed him to Montlake with open arms.
Snell, who originally signed with the Huskies out of Shorewood High School but opted to play professionally after being drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, still considers UW his home.
"To be a Husky, for me it was everything. There was nothing like it," Snell said. "It was down the road for me. My mom worked here. I watched them with my dad my whole life."
Snell threw in the Huskies' bullpen for several minutes and jogged along the warning track before most of the current Dawgs took the field. After his workout, the 27-year-old, who remains close with most of the Huskies' 2011 signing class, chatted with the current team.
He shared a message that with a combination of hard work, talent and determination, anyone can make the big leagues. It was a simple message that was sprinkled with stories that could resonate with the Huskies, most of whom have dreams of one day playing in the big leagues.
Snell also shared that pro ball is not all it is cracked up to be at times. The minor leagues are a grind and despite all the fame and fortune he has earned, Snell emphasized how jealous he is of the experience that all the Huskies are gaining by playing college ball.
"My best friend, Trevor Mitsui, came here to play," he told the team. "I was like so jealous of him the whole time he was here. I would literally tell him every day, 'You get to go to UW. You're with your family. You've got this cool little brotherhood that you got to create and make all these memories.' And I'm in Princeton, West Virginia, bored out of my mind at a Motel 6 – it's terrible. This is something I will always be jealous of.
"You guys have it so good here," he continued to tell the intently listening Huskies. "They take care of you. There's not a better university, I promise you that."
Snell's affinity for the Huskies extends beyond the baseball field. He remains an avid Husky Football fan and is not shy about sharing his love of UW on social media.
He is also an ardent believer of using his influence for the greater good. Following the lead of former Husky and current Arizona Diamondbacks' star, Jake Lamb, Snell will be helping under privileged kids attend UW Baseball games. In one corner of the stadium will be Jake's Corner and in the opposite end will be Blake's Corner. The two stars have pledged to buy tickets that will be given away to young kids that otherwise would be unable to attend ball games at Husky Ballpark.
The Huskies start the regular season on Feb. 14 at Loyola Marymount University and begin the home schedule, Feb. 28 when they host UC Irvine at Husky Ballpark.
