Dodgers’ Gavin Stone Says He Tipped Pitches ‘All of Last Season’
The Los Angeles Dodgers already have many of their pitchers on the mend to start the 2024 season. It’s the last thing they want, but it allows others to shine in their absence. One player who will likely get the opportunity is right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone.
All signs point to the Dodgers’ number-6 prospect being their number-5 starter, but we’ll find out soon enough. Regardless of his role, Stone will receive another opportunity at the big-league level and is set to do much better. In four spring training games (three starts), Stone lalowed one run and five hits across 9.2 innings, walked one batter and striking out nine.
Stone’s debut season was not ideal. In eight games (four starts) in 2023, Stone allowed 31 runs in 31 innings — a 9.00 ERA. He did not nearly resemble the best pitching prospect in an organization famous for developing homegrown pitchers.
One significant reason: Stone tipping his pitches.
In a recent interview with the media, including Noah Furtado of the Los Angeles Times, Stone said he was tipping pitches all last season. Because of that, he got a new glove.
If Stone’s opponents knew what was coming, that would certainly explain his not-so-great rookie campaign. Hitters compiled a .338 average against Stone, resulting in a 1.90 WHIP.
Stone’s glove was 12 inches long last season, and he hopes the half-inch adjustment makes a difference. We’ll find out how much a difference it makes soon. Stone will accompany the Dodgers to South Korea today. If his regular season debut doesn’t come in Seoul, expect to see him on the mound as a starting pitcher when the Dodgers return to the United States.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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