The Los Angeles Dodgers began their 2025 Cactus League schedule with back-to-back games against the Chicago Cubs, the second of which was started by Tony Gonsolin.
The right-hander, who missed part of 2023 and all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, struck out a pair of batters in a scoreless first inning.
“It felt good,” Gonsolin said of his Spring Training debut. “First time against big league competition, outside of a rehab outing or stay-hot group. It was cool to be back in a real game.”
Gonsolin felt that he executed his pitches well, but thought his fastball could have been better. “Yeah, overall felt pretty good,” he began.
“I thought the fastball execution could be a little bit better but thought I threw a couple good splitters, couple good sliders and couple good curveballs. Overall it was good results.”
Gonsolin is competing with Dustin May and potentially Bobby Miller for the final spot in the Dodgers’ Opening Day starting rotation.
Miller’s spring was interrupted when he was hit by a comebacker against the Cubs.
Gonsolin figures to be the favorite to earn the final spot in the Dodgers rotation, but he still has a lot to prove.
“Maybe a little bit. Just trying to go out there and compete, and see what happens,” Gonsolin answered when asked if he feels like the forgotten man in the Dodgers rotation.
In 2022, his last full season, Gonsolin earned an All-Star Game selection and finished the year with a 2.14 ERA in 130.1 innings pitched.
“I think I’m just going to go out there and compete for a spot regardless of whether guys are ready or not, and see what happens,” Gonsolin said.
Dave Roberts impressed by Tony Gonsolin
Gonsolin has only made one appearance this spring thus far, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts likes what he is seeing.
“Oh, gosh. He looks much better than he did,” Roberts said of Gonsolin’s progress from last year.
“I think at that point in time, he was trying to give us whatever he had left, which he did. Go through the process of surgery and where he’s at now, he looks really sharp. The ball is coming out good, the breaking stuff, command, everything looks good.
“We just can’t forget how good Tony has been for us when he’s healthy. I’m certainly not sleeping on Tony. I think he’s going to be good for us.”
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