Tony Takes the Leap: Gonsolin’s 2024 Transformation into a Dodgers Ace
Most people would be forgiven for forgetting about Tony Gonsolin in 2024, as he did not pitch for the Dodgers.
Gonsolin had Tommy John surgery in late August 2023, putting Gonsolin on the shelf for the entirety of the 2024 campaign. As Tommy John surgery typically has a recovery time of 12-15 months, the prospect of Gonsolin returning in 2024, even with all the attrition in the rotation, felt more aspirational than a concrete plan.
Gonsolin spoke to the SportsNet LA crew around the one-year anniversary of his surgery, talking about the mental hurdles being the primary hurdle to overcome while in recovery.
Gonsolin started throwing bullpen sessions in late August and reported to Triple-A Oklahoma City on September 10 to begin his rehab assignment. Based on the remaining Triple-A schedule, the Dodgers hoped that Gonsolin would get at least three rehab outings.
During his first appearance, he pitched two scoreless innings against Tacoma with three strikeouts.
Dave Roberts was complimentary about the outing.
“I think this is a great outcome for him, and for us potentially. He put in a lot of hard work,” manager Dave Roberts said. “This is sort of raising the floor on next year and building somewhat of a foundation. And if there’s a crazy scenario where he’s called on in ‘24 and it makes sense, great. But for him to be able to take these steps, it’s a compliment to him and the whole training crew.”
Six days later, he faced Tacoma again and labored for 2⅔ innings, allowing two runs.
As the Triple-A season concluded, Gonsolin was limited to simulated appearances in Los Angeles or at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. The Dodgers consistently stated that the goal for Gonsolin was to return to the major league roster in 2025, but the team did leave itself an out in an all-hands-on-deck scenario.
“[Gonsolin pitching in a regular season game prior to the postseason] would be ideal, but not necessarily has to happen,” Roberts said. “The most important thing is we feel confident with his rehab.”
Gonsolin looked sharp but ran out of time to prepare, even as a bullpen option. Gonsolin’s career postseason ERA at the start of the 2024 postseason was a ghastly 9.20 over 14⅔ innings in eight appearances.
Respectfully, short of a series of misfortunes to the Dodgers bullpen rivaling the 1992 Springfield Nuclear Power Plant softball team, there was no way that Gonsolin would see live action in 2024. Plus, ignoring the pratfalls of putting a pitcher into a situation where they have little chance to succeed is how one gets a Robbie Ray or a Nestor Cortes.
Gonsolin is expected to be ready for spring training. Barring the unexpected, he is expected to be a fixture in the back half of the Dodgers’ burgeoning Hydra of a rotation in 2025.
For his trouble, the Dodgers avoided arbitration before the Thanksgiving holiday. Gonsolin inked a one-year deal for the upcoming season at the same $5.4 million salary he had in 2024. Gonsolin is scheduled to enter free agency in the 2027 season, so the question of exactly how Gonsolin figures into the Dodgers plans going forward is an open one.
2024 particulars
Age: 30
Stats: Did not play in the majors
Salary: $5.4 million
Game of the year
On September 21, he made his third and final rehab appearance at Salt Lake, where in three innings of work, he allowed a single baserunner and struck out six. It was his longest and best rehab start.
Roster status
Gonsolin has four years, 152 days of service time. The Dodgers avoided arbitration before the Thanksgiving holiday, signing Gonsolin to a one-year deal for the upcoming season at the same $5.4 million salary he had in 2024.
