Tony Gonsolin Expected To Open Season On Injured List

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Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin received’t be prepared for the start of the season attributable to his present ankle harm, supervisor Dave Roberts introduced Friday (Twitter link by way of Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Instances). He’s anticipated to open the season on the 15-day injured record. Righties Ryan Pepiot and Michael Grove are the favorites to interrupt camp because the Dodgers’ fifth starter with Gonsolin on the IL.

The Dodgers are hoping for a comparatively minimal absence for the 28-year-old Gonsolin, who improbably injured his ankle strolling off the sphere following pitchers’ fielding observe earlier in camp. He’s solely only in the near past resumed a throwing program, and there’s merely not sufficient time for him to get constructed again up sufficient to interrupt camp within the rotation 13 days from now.

Gonsolin began a career-high 24 video games throughout the 2022 regular-season, pitching to a sensational 2.14 ERA with a high quality 23.9% strikeout fee in opposition to a robust 7.0% stroll fee over the lifetime of 130 1/3 innings. He undoubtedly benefited from a .207 batting common on balls in play that he received’t maintain over a bigger pattern, however even with some anticipated regression he’s nonetheless a nicely above-average massive league pitcher. The 132 1/3 innings he pitched between Triple-A and the Majors final 12 months was the best whole he’s reached in any professional season since being drafted in 2016, nonetheless, so there are some sturdiness issues with the gifted righty.

Each Pepiot and Grove are well-regarded prospects, although the previous has drawn extra nationwide fanfare than the latter. Pepiot, 25, ranked amongst Baseball America’s top-100 prospects each final offseason (No. 99) and this offseason (No. 55). He pitched to a 3.47 ERA in his first MLB cup of espresso final season and a 2.56 mark in Triple-A, combining for a complete of 127 2/3 innings. Pepiot’s command has by no means been his robust level however was significantly troubling in his temporary debut final 12 months, when he walked 27 of 160 batters (16.9%). He’ll clearly want to enhance upon that mark to have success over the long term.

As for the 26-year-old Grove, he additionally made his massive league debut in 2022, tossing 29 1/3 innings of 4.60 ERA ball. Grove’s 18% strikeout fee was nicely beneath common, however he recorded a strong 7.5% stroll fee in his first massive league audition. He additionally logged a 3.79 ERA in 76 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, displaying robust strikeout and stroll charges alongside the way in which as he rose to the Majors.

Both Pepiot or Grove appears able to filling what’s prone to be a short-term absence for Gonsolin behind a projected prime 4 of Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard and Dustin May. There’s loads of harm concern amid that group, and Might’s workload will possible be monitored in his first full season again from Tommy John surgical procedure, so it stands to cause that Pepiot and Grove may each be referred to as upon a number of instances over the course of the season. Additional down the depth chart, prime prospects Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone are joined by veterans Robbie Erlin and Dylan Covey. None are on the 40-man roster, however each Miller and Stone are top-100 prospects themselves and considered as potential long-term choices within the Los Angeles rotation.