Dodgers Tony Gonsolin shows encouraging signs in | College News

MESA, Ariz. — Tony Gonsolin took one small step in his return from Tommy John surgical procedure on Friday, however not less than it was in the correct direction, the Dodgers right-hander throwing a scoreless first inning in a 7-3 exhibition loss to the Chicago Cubs in Sloan Park.

Gonsolin, pitching in a aggressive big-league setting for the primary time in 18 months, gave up a leadoff single to Ian Happ earlier than getting Dansby Swanson to fly out to deep proper area and placing out Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong with a pair of well-placed split-fingered fastballs.

Of Gonsolin’s 18 pitches, 11 had been strikes. His fastball was clocked at 91-92 mph. He shortly discovered the command of his splitter, slider and curve after throwing his first few off-speed pitches out of the zone.

“Overall, I felt pretty good,” Gonsolin stated. “It was cool to be back in like a real game. I thought the fastball execution could be a little bit better, but I thought I threw a couple of good splitties, sliders and curveballs. Overall, just good results.”

Gonsolin was slated to pitch one-plus inning, however supervisor Dave Roberts opted to drag him after one and have him throw some additional pitches in the bullpen.

“I thought the command was good, the throw was good … he just looks sharp right now,” Roberts stated. “I think he’s in a really good spot. Given what he’s been through the last calendar year. I think he’s going to have a really good season. Delivery looks consistent. His secondary pitches are crisp. I’m looking forward to building him up.”

Though transient, Gonsolin’s outing was a lot more encouraging than his final big-league begin, when he was rocked for 10 earned runs and eight hits, together with 5 home runs, in 3 ⅓ innings of an 11-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Aug. 18, 2023.

Roberts revealed after that sport that Gonsolin, a National League All-Star in 2022, had been “dealing with an arm issue” for 4 to 6 weeks. Two weeks later, Gonsolin underwent season-ending surgical procedure to restore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, a process that sidelined him for all of 2024.

Gonsolin tried a comeback final summer season in hopes of boosting the crew’s damage ravaged rotation in the playoffs, finishing a throwing development in August and making three rehabilitation begins in September for triple-A Oklahoma City in which he gave up two earned runs and struck out 12 in 7 ⅔ innings.

But Gonsolin was not activated for any three rounds of a postseason that ended with the Dodgers defeating the New York Yankees in a five-game World Series for his or her first full-season championship since 1988.

“I think we were pretty close,” Gonsolin stated. “I had talks with [general manager Brandon] Gomes and Andrew [Friedman, president of baseball operations] about it. Everything played out. We were OK, and they didn’t have to use me. It turned out well.”

Roberts stated Gonsolin seems to be a lot better this spring than he did at any level of his tried comeback in 2024.

“I think at that point in time, he was trying to give us whatever he had left, which he did,” Roberts stated. “Where he’s at now, he looks really sharp. … We just can’t forget how good Tony has been for us when he’s healthy. So I’m certainly not sleeping on Tony. I think he’s going to be good for us.”

Gonsolin, 30, was one of baseball’s best pitchers in 2022, going 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 24 begins, placing out 119 and strolling 35 in 130 ⅓ innings. He regressed, primarily as a result of of his arm troubles, in 2023, going 8-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 20 begins.

With the Dodgers including stars comparable to Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto earlier than 2024 and Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki this winter, Gonsolin has been pushed up to now down the depth chart that he’s battling Dustin May for the ultimate rotation spot. Sidelined for a 12 months and a half, Gonsolin admits to feeling like a forgotten man this spring.

“Maybe a little bit,” Gonsolin stated. “Just trying to go out there and compete and see what happens.”

Short hops

Shortstop Mookie Betts, catcher Austin Barnes, third baseman Miguel Rojas and designated hitter Chris Taylor every had two hits in Friday’s sport, and reserve catcher Chris Okey hit a two-run homer off A.J. Puckett in the seventh inning. … Veteran reliever Luis Garcia, who’s hoping to make the membership as a non-roster invite, gave up three runs and three hits — together with a two-run homer to Miguel Amaya — in the third inning.