Rookie Michael Grove Not Worrying About Dodgers Opening Day Roster Status
The Dodgers wrap up their second full week of spring training this weekend and what was expected to be an interesting enough camp on its own has added a few more storylines to keep an eye on along the way.
Shortstop Gavin Lux injured his knee just three games into the spring and is out for the season. Reliever Daniel Hudson is still making his way back from knee surgery of his own and might not be ready for opening day. And All-Star starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin rolled his ankle during drills earlier this week and now might not be ready game one of the season either.
The Lux situation was solved by plugging Miguel Rojas in as the everyday shortstop. The Hudson situation isn’t too big of a deal for a team with a fairly deep bullpen. But the Gonsolin situation one that likely won’t be figured out until just before opening day.
If Tony is unable to answer the bell, the Dodgers have a few rookie options that can step right in and take down some innings as the number five starter. We saw one on Thursday with Ryan Pepiot who made it through 3 scoreless innings against the Oakland A’s and has allowed just one run over 6 innings. And fellow rookie right-hander, Michael Grove, who took Gonsolin’s spot in the rotation on Wednesday.
Grove was asked about the potential of that audition turning into something that could stretch into the regular season. That’s not something he’s concerning himself with at the moment.
“I mean, we still have what, three or four weeks until Opening Day? I’m just going to keep doing what I can here to get myself as good as I can be by Opening Day, and let the chips fall where they may.”
It’s a good mindset to have. The more he adds to his plate, like thinking about that roster spot and trying to pitch with the idea of making it, the more it adds to the pressure of trying to prove something. He was good enough to be drafted by the Dodgers in the second round in 2018, he was good enough to make 6 starts for the team last year. He was good enough to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in his second to last start of the season with LA.
Like he told DodgersNation.com at Camelback Ranch a few weeks ago, his plan is simple.
“Just trying to lock down what I do and not really worry about the outside noise too much.”
Grove to Doug McKain, DodgersNation.com
Just trust the stuff and the process and let your work speak for itself.
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