Dodgers News: Tony Gonsolin Provides Massive Health Update Ahead of 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin revealed he is healthy and ready to go for the 2025 season. The right-hander missed all of last year, but the Dodgers did contemplate whether Gonsolin should be an option for the postseason.
Gonsolin stressed this offseason he is focused on maintaining his health throughout the 2025 campaign. If last season taught the rotation anything, it’s that injuries can happen at any time.
“Went into the offseason 100 percent, so should be 100 percent going into spring training,” Gonsolin told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain. “Just the normal buildup for me, the normal workout program. Trying to make a little adjustments, trying to figure out some things to stay healthy all of next year.”
Gonsolin had the opportunity to watch some of the postseason from a different vantage point this year. Like most fans, the right-hander watched his team compete on the TV where he was able to notice just how well the Dodgers pitching staff really did.
“It’s really cool how well our staff attacked the zone with a lot of good stuff and on a very consistent basis so it was really cool to see just how good our guys are,” Gonsolin said.
Although Gonsolin has an affinity for cats, he wasn’t bothered by the Dodgers bullpen being coined as “dogs.”
“They were dogs out there I can’t complain at all,” he said. “Those guys did a great job this year and continuing in the postseason and it showed.”
Gonsolin made a few appearances at the beginning of September on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City. His three-game rehab stint featured 12 strikeouts and two runs on seven hits through 7.2 innings of work.
After Gonsolin’s rehab assignment, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shut down speculation that the right-hander would return in 2024. Ahead of the National League Division Series, Roberts noted that Gonsolin wouldn’t return unless something unforeseen happened.
By the time the Dodgers reached Game 5 of the World Series, the pitching staff was hanging on by a thread. However, thanks to the heroics of Walker Buehler, the Dodgers were able to close out the game and win it all.
Though the story of the 2024 postseason will never be forgotten, the Dodgers don’t want a repeat situation next season. General manager Brandon Gomes revealed the Dodgers would be using a six-man rotation in 2025, which includes Gonsolin, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Tyler Glasnow for now.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Before being injured in 2023, he had a great ERA, despite really only having 2 pitches he threw consistently. In 2022 over 130 innings pitched he had a very low ERA –2.14–and extraordinary WHIP — 0.875. If he can return to that level of performance, and pitch 100+ innings in 2025, that would be great. Let him learn a change up from Gavin Stone and a sweeper from Evan Phillips and from Treinen, over the winter.
This is just speculation from an amateur fan. But my guess is that the number of pitches, or innings, per game is more important in predicting injury than pitches or innings per year. I speculate, given that we know pitchers are pitching at higher velocity and with more stressful spin on their pitches, that as the muscles get tired later in a game, it puts increased stress on the tendons and ligaments. I still believe there should be a more strict innings or pitch limit each game for many pitchers, especially those who have already been injured, or young pitchers who haven’t built up their maximum strength yet.
Your theory sounds correct. Gomes has stated they would go with a 6-man rotation. Japanese teams use a 6-man rotation and have not seen the incredible amount of arm/shoulder injuries. Friedman has mentioned their brain trust will be looking at what they can learn from other teams, countries and experts.
Limiting the amount of pitches is still a good idea. Using starters to X amount of pitches, no matter the inning.
I am a Gonsolin fan. When healthy, he has been very effective. I notice you are not mentioning May or Kershaw in your rotation. I am hoping they sign Buehler and Sasaski. That should give them more than enough rotation strength. The bullpen will be fine. Several Farm guys will compete for a spot.