Snell keeping busy by coaching kids in Seattle

Blake Snell is still searching for his next Major League home while navigating free agency. However, away from the immediate uncertainty of where the two-time Cy Young Award winner will land, he feels right at home these days.

Literally and figuratively.

As he's typically done each offseason, Snell has spent the winter near his childhood home in Seattle. But this offseason has brought a new sense of fulfillment for the lefty who's fiercely loyal to his roots.

This offseason, Snell started a 12U travel baseball team with the hopes of paving paths to college and beyond for other youth in the Pacific Northwest.

The name: Zilla National Team, is a play on Snell's nickname "Snellzilla."

"It means so much to me, because it's like, I'm helping these kids be the best versions of themselves," Snell said in an interview last weekend with MLB Network. "And I'm also representing where I came from. So it's like there's a lot of good from that."

Snell's inspiration was driven by his upbringing and the impact instilled by his father, Dave, who founded the Seattle Select Baseball program, which Blake and his three brothers would go on to play for.

Snell received a scholarship to the University of Washington and, in 2011, was selected by Tampa Bay in the first round of the MLB Draft.

Last year, he became the seventh all-time pitcher to win the Cy Young in the American and National Leagues when he took home the hardware while playing for the Padres. In 2018, he won his first one with the Rays.

"I know that me playing right now has a huge impact," Snell said. "So I know I've got to do something now. Because whenever I retire, whenever that is and I'm done, I won't have as much of an impact because I won't be playing. And I'm aware of that and I'm OK with that. It's just the truth. So that's kind of what made me get going right now."

His pedigree hasn't precluded him from chasing his passions away from his career, which is to create avenues for other kids from this region to play at the highest levels for their competitive age. While baseball is greatly loved in the Pacific Northwest, the wet and/or wintry climates during a typical school season can create challenges for exposure, which is among the reasons Snell formed Team Zilla.

"Me being in the big leagues, they're like, 'Oh my God'; they don't think they can do it," Snell said. "And I'm trying to change their mind to like, 'No, you can.' These are the steps. So we bring a different variety of age group players so they can see it and be like, 'Oh, I can do that.'"

This story goes back further, though, to when Snell was playing on these fields. Seattle Select has grown from one team at its inception in 2005, composed primarily of kids from the city's surroundings, to more than 10 teams from ages 8 through 18, with its imprint stretching across the Puget Sound region, Western Washington, and Canada.

Team Zilla was born out of a desire to broaden its scope. Parents within Seattle Select had expressed a want for a team that could compete nationally.

"Whoever wants to play ball at the highest level, they've got to have good talent, they've got to be scouted, all of that," Snell said. "There's a lot that goes into it."

This also wouldn't be a Snell-inspired group without some swag, which has caught the eye of social media. The uniforms, which had an assist from Nike, have a "Godzilla-themed" look that incorporates their colors: black, with green lettering, a purple exterior and a general neon look. Snell also gifted the players custom-made team jewelry and sweat suits thanks to contributions from Jaxxon.

"As we keep going, it's going to get better and better," Snell said. "This is just the start. This is the bottom floor."

Team Zilla debuted in the 12U Huntington Beach MLK Super Regional event in California. The team won each of its first six games before falling in the championship round. This has already had Snell and the players pondering what could be next.

"We want these kids to know the work that they're putting in to get here, it pays off and you get rewarded," Snell said. "But then, at the same time, you've got to earn it. Because that was only one tournament. You want to do it again? You've got to earn it. You've got to stay great. So you've got to keep chasing it, and we'll see what happens."