How is Dodgers Pitcher Tony Gonsolin Doing in his Tommy John Rehabilitation?
Dodgers’ starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin has not pitched a single inning this season. In Aug. 2023, he underwent Tommy John surgery after pitching through pain in his right elbow much of last summer.
More recently, the Dodgers placed the right-hander on the 60-day injured list on Feb. 9, more than a month before Opening Day. Other than his recent appearance at CatCon in Pasadena, public sightings of the pitcher have been few and far between.
Still, Gonsolin has been making progress behind the scenes. Jerry Espinoza reported via Twitter/X that Gonsolin threw on flat ground on Tuesday.
Throwing on flat ground allows recovering pitchers to ease their way back to the intensity of pitching off the mound. This suggests that the California native is inching toward a return, but it is unlikely that he will return before the end of the season.
This is not Gonsolin’s first encounter with injuries. He has battled at least one injury every season since 2021. In 2021, Gonsolin was on and off of the injured list for right shoulder inflammation. That season, he appeared in 15 games and spent most of his time in the minor leagues as the Dodgers sent him on two separate rehab assignments in 2021.
The following season, Gonsolin was healthy for the entire first half of 2022. Maintaining his health contributed to Gonsolin’s first and only NL All-Star selection. He made a career-high 24 starts with the Dodgers, logging a career-best 2.14 ERA. Across 130.1 innings, Gonsolin recorded 119 strikeouts and 35 walks while allowing 79 hits and 32 runs.
But, the best season of his career was interrupted in the second half. After returning from the All-Star break, Gonsolin endured a right forearm strain that would sideline him until October.
Last season, the right-hander sustained a left ankle sprain at the beginning of the season. The Dodgers sent Gonsolin on rehab assignment in April, and reactivated him after six days with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.
But, Los Angeles had to send Gonsolin back to IL in August with right forearm inflammation. His placement on IL was almost exactly one year after his right forearm strain. The Dodgers transferred Gonsolin from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL, suggesting that the injury was more severe than initially anticipated.
The 30-year-old’s next game will be his first since Aug. 18, 2023. It won’t happen until next season, but in the meantime any signs of progress from Gonsolin are welcome.
Photo Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
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