Blake Snell Talks Cards, Collecting and Zilla Breaks

Blake Snell Turns a Longtime Card Hobby Into Zilla Breaks

For two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, sports card collecting has been part of his life for years. He said his interest in the hobby began around 2012, when he started collecting with his older brother. That early connection eventually grew into something bigger, leading Snell to launch his own sports card breaking company, Zilla Breaks.

Snell’s path from collector to breaker reflects how much the hobby has changed in recent years. What started as a personal interest became a business built around collecting, live streams, and direct interaction with fans. In a conversation with Snell and Zilla Breaks co-founder Daveed Cohen, both discussed how the company came together and why they believe it stands out in the breaking space.

How Blake Snell Got Deeper Into the Hobby

Although Snell had been collecting for years, he said he did not fully understand the hobby until more recently. That changed when he discovered Whatnot a little over a year ago, which introduced him to card breaking and helped him learn more about what collectors were chasing.

Once he started getting into breaks, the hobby quickly became more than just a casual interest. Snell said he began learning what people wanted, what types of cards drew attention, and how the breaking side of the hobby worked. From there, he was hooked.

He also said his experience as a professional baseball player gives him some perspective when it comes to evaluating young talent, though he admitted he had not spent much time prospecting in the past. Before getting more involved in the hobby, he would simply hold onto cards of young players he pulled and hope they turned into stars rather than actively researching which prospects to target.

Snell on Pitchers, Value and His Own Cards

As a pitcher, Snell has a unique view of one of the hobby’s long-running trends: pitchers often carry less value than everyday hitters. He said that difference does not entirely make sense to him, though he understands that position players appear in the lineup every day and therefore tend to attract more collector attention.

Even so, Snell said he appreciates being able to collect his own cards at more affordable prices. He especially enjoys chasing his own one-of-ones, but he drew a clear line when prices get pushed too high. If collectors ask $40,000 for a card simply because they know he wants it, he said he loses interest immediately.

“When people oversell it, I'll never buy that card. Someone else can have it,” he said.

Related coverage includes Blake Snell Brings a Collector’s Mindset to Zilla Breaks.

Why Zilla Breaks Was the Right Next Step

When asked what inspired him to start Zilla Breaks, Snell said he had not seen many professional athletes hosting their own breaks and liked the idea of creating something that blended collecting with community. For him, the appeal was not just business. He wanted a place where he could open cards, interact with fans, and spend time with viewers in a setting that felt personal and entertaining.

Snell said breaking is something he genuinely enjoys, and that was an important part of building Zilla Breaks. Rather than treating the company as a side project with little involvement, he wanted it to reflect his own interest in the hobby and his desire to be part of the collecting experience.

Daveed Cohen on What Sets the Company Apart

Daveed Cohen said Snell’s background made Zilla Breaks a natural fit. He pointed to Snell’s years of experience streaming on Twitch and his genuine involvement in the hobby as two major reasons the business made sense from the start. According to Cohen, Snell is comfortable running full streams on his own and can spend six or even 12 hours at a time opening cards and talking with viewers.

Cohen also said the company’s mix of sports, business and finance experience has helped it grow quickly in a short period of time. He noted that Zilla Breaks has expanded over the past six months and that Snell had already built other businesses under the Zilla name before launching the breaking company.

“Between Blake's involvement in the hobby and the experience we have on the business side, I think that's really what sets us apart from other breaking companies,” Cohen explained.

Adapting to What Viewers Want

One theme that came through in the conversation was flexibility. Cohen said Zilla Breaks has been willing to adjust its approach based on what viewers respond to, and that will continue as the company grows. One example is the company’s move into memorabilia through Fanatics Under Wraps when traditional card breaks were not filling as quickly. That shift helped Zilla Breaks keep growing while offering viewers something different.

Snell said more changes are coming soon. He mentioned that the company is working on a few things it hopes to introduce around December or January. The goal, he said, is to make the streams feel more like a show that people can tune into and enjoy, whether they are joining a break or simply watching along.

Snell’s View on the Breaking Industry

When asked what he would change about the breaking industry, Snell focused on the importance of giving back to the collecting community. He said he wants people to feel comfortable with the money they spend on breaks and believes breakers should help collectors make informed decisions rather than pressure them into spending.

For Snell, Zilla Breaks is meant to be a place where collectors can learn about the hobby, enjoy the experience and feel welcome regardless of how much they spend. That approach, he said, is part of what he wants the company to represent as it grows.

What Comes Next for Zilla Breaks

Both Snell and Cohen ended the conversation with a simple message for collectors: check out a stream and see what they are building. With Snell’s hobby background, his comfort on camera and the company’s willingness to adapt, Zilla Breaks appears positioned to keep evolving alongside the audience it serves.

As the company works toward new stream ideas and continues blending cards with memorabilia, Snell’s long-running interest in collecting remains at the center of the project. What began as a hobby with his brother years ago has turned into a business built around the same enthusiasm that first drew him into the hobby in the first place.