Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin Takes First Steps in Return From Tommy John Surgery, Door Not Closed on Return

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not fully ruled out a return this year for pitcher Tony Gonsolin, who has missed the entire season so far while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Gonsolin has now gone up against hitters three times recently, including at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.

Gonsolin still has to complete more batting practices before making a potential rehabilitation start, but a return remains possible, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.

Gonsolin started during the majority of the 2023 season but was placed on the injured list in August with inflammation in his forearm. Later that month, the team announced he was undergoing Tommy John surgery, which was expected to keep him out of the remainder of the 2023 campaign as well as the 2024 season.

Even while he played through much of 2023, Gonsolin struggled with his arm injury throughout the season. This affected his pitching, as Gonsolin posted a 4.93 ERA over 20 starts, the worst of his career. In his last start on Aug. 18, 2023, Gonsolin gave up 10 earned runs, five home runs, and four walks in 3.1 innings.

This was a far cry from how he began the year, allowing zero earned runs in four of his first five starts.

Before this arm injury, Gonsolin emerged as one of the team’s best pitchers. He recorded an ERA under 3.00 in three of his first four seasons and posted a phenomenal 2022 season as he made his first All-Star team.

In 2022, Gonsolin started 24 games and went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 119 strikeouts. Over his final five starts of that season, Gonsolin gave up no more than one earned run in a start.

Along with Gonsolin, the Dodgers have dealt with multiple long-term injuries to starting pitchers this season. Walker Buehler, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Dustin May have all missed significant time. Ace Tyler Glasnow was recently placed on the injured list for the second time, and River Ryan is set to miss significant time as he undergoes Tommy John surgery.

Even with a regularly changing rotation, the Dodgers hold the best record in the National League at 77-53.