Tony Gonsolin

Tony Gonsolin
Gonsolin at the White House in 2021
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 26
Pitcher
Born: (1994-05-14) May 14, 1994 (age 30)
Vacaville, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 26, 2019, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record34–11
Earned run average3.19
Strikeouts349
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Anthony Dennis Gonsolin (born May 14, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Saint Mary's Gaels and was drafted by the Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. In 2019, he made his MLB debut and in 2020, The Dodgers won the World Series with him.

Early life and amateur career

Gonsolin attended Vacaville High School in Vacaville, California. As a senior, he went 4–1 with a 2.60 earned run average (ERA).[1] After going undrafted in the 2012 MLB draft, he played college baseball at St. Mary's College of California. As a senior in 2016, he pitched to a 3–3 record with a 3.86 ERA in 18 games.[2] He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2016 MLB draft.[3]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Gonsolin spent his first professional season with the Ogden Raptors and Great Lakes Loons, pitching to a combined 1–2 record with a 3.77 ERA in 19 relief appearances.[2] He spent 2017 with Great Lakes and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, where he went 7–6 with a 3.86 ERA in 42 games.[2] After spending his first two seasons as a relief pitcher, he was converted into a starter in 2018. He started the season with Rancho Cucamonga and was promoted to the Tulsa Drillers during the season. In 26 starts with both teams, he went 10–2 with a 2.60 ERA.[4] The Dodgers named him as the organization's minor league pitcher of the year for 2018.[5]

Major leagues

Gonsolin began 2019 with the Oklahoma City Dodgers and was called up to the Dodgers on June 26 to make his debut as the starting pitcher against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[6] He pitched four innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits with three strikeouts. He also singled to center field in his first major league at bat.[7] On July 30, in his second MLB game, Gonsolin picked up his first career save against the Colorado Rockies after pitching four innings of relief in a 9–4 win.[8] On August 5, Gonsolin picked up his first major league win after pitching six shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed only two hits and one walk, while striking out seven batters.[9] He pitched 40 innings in 11 games for the Dodgers, with six starts, and finished with a 4–2 record and a 2.93 ERA.[10]

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular season, Gonsolin went 2–2 with a 2.31 ERA, in nine games (eight starts) during which he struck out 46 batters in 46+23 innings.[10] In the postseason, he made two appearances in the NLCS, starting game two and appearing in relief in game seven. He pitched a total of 613 innings, allowing seven runs and picking up the loss in game two.[11] In the World Series, he was selected by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to start Game 2, on two days' rest, against the Tampa Bay Rays.[12] He only pitched 1+13 innings in the game and allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk as he was awarded the loss in the game.[13] He also got the start in Game 6 and this time pitched 1+23 innings while allowing one run on three hits and two walks; however, the Dodgers came from behind to win that game and clinch the championship.[14] Gonsolin received eleven votes in 2020 National League Rookie of the Year voting, finishing in fourth place.[15] On October 26, 2020, Baseball America named Gonsolin its 2020 Rookie of the Year.[16]

Gonsolin began the 2021 season on the Opening Day roster but did not appear in a game before he was placed on the injured list on April 4 with right shoulder inflammation. After a few rehab starts, he was activated on June 9 to rejoin the Dodgers starting rotation.[17] His shoulder started hurting again towards the end of July and he was put back on the injured list on July 31.[18] After missing another month, he returned on September 9.[19] He made 13 starts (and two relief appearances) for the Dodgers in 2021, with a 4–1 record and a 3.23 ERA.[10] Gonsolin made three relief appearances in the 2021 NLCS, allowing five runs on five hits in four innings.[10]

After starting the 2022 season with 11 wins and no losses and a 2.02 ERA, Gonsolin was selected to the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. However, he allowed three runs on four hits (including two home runs) to pick up the loss in the game.[20] At the end of August, Gonsolin was placed on the injured list with a forearm strain.[21] He spent the next month recovering and did not return until he made a start on October 3, the second to last day of the regular season.[22] Despite this, his season numbers were a career best. He finished 16–1 with a 2.14 ERA and 119 strikeouts.[10]

On January 31, 2023, Gonsolin signed a two-year, $6.65 million, contract to avoid salary arbitration.[23] However, an ankle injury in spring training led to him beginning the season on the injured list.[24] He rejoined the Dodgers rotation on April 26.[25] He made 20 starts with the Dodgers in 2023, with an 8–5 record and 4.98 ERA[10] but on August 18 against the Miami Marlins he allowed 10 earned runs in 3+13 innings, including five home runs, tying a team record for most home runs allowed in a game.[26] The following day, he was placed on the injured list with right forearm inflammation. The team said Gonsolin had been dealing with arm issues all year and he was unlikely to pitch again during the season.[27] On August 28, it was confirmed that he would undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his season.[28]

Gonsolin spent the 2024 season recovering from his surgery, appearing only in three rehab games in the minor leagues.[29] Despite his injury, Gonsolin signed a $5.4 million contract with the Dodgers for 2025 to avoid salary arbitration.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sieger, Matt (May 16, 2019). "Former Vacaville High baseball star Tony Gonsolin a step away from the big leagues". The Vacaville Reporter. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Tony Gonsolin Amateur, College & Minor League Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "Scholtens, Gonsolin selected in 9th round of MLB draft". Dailyrepublic.com. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Tony Gonsolin Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  5. ^ Young, David (September 17, 2018). "Dodgers name Gavin Lux and Tony Gonsolin minor leaguers of the year". SB Nation. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  6. ^ Gurnick, Ken (June 25, 2019). "Gonsolin on callup: 'All the emotions flooded me'". mlb.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  7. ^ "D-Backs 8, Dodgers 2". mlb.com. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  8. ^ Gurnick, Ken (July 31, 2019). "Gonsolin gets 1st save in stellar 1-day showcase". mlb.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  9. ^ Gurnick, Ken (August 5, 2019). "Gonsolin shows October promise in home debut". mlb.com. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Tony Gonsolin Statistics & History". Baseball Reference.
  11. ^ "2020 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Game 2, Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers". Baseball-Reference.com. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  12. ^ Gurnick, Ken (October 21, 2020). "Dodgers turn to Gonsolin to open Game 2". MLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "2020 World Series Game 2, Rays at Dodgers, October 21". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "2020 World Series Game 6, Rays at Dodgers, October 27". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "2020 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference.
  16. ^ Cooper, J. J. "Tony Gonsolin Is Baseball America's 2020 MLB Rookie Of The Year". www.baseballamerica.com.
  17. ^ Toribio, Juan (June 8, 2021). "Gonsolin 'ready to get out there' for debut". mlb.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  18. ^ Stephen, Eric (July 31, 2021). "Dodgers place Tony Gonsolin on injured list with right shoulder inflammation". SB Nation. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  19. ^ Harris, Blake (September 9, 2021). "Tony Gonsolin returns after missing a month". SB Nation. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts & the moments from the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium". SB Nation. July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  21. ^ Toribio, Juan (August 29, 2022). "Dodgers optimistic despite losing Gonsolin to IL". mlb.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  22. ^ Stephen, Eric (October 3, 2022). "Tony Gonsolin returns to Dodgers, just in time for the postseason". SB Nation. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  23. ^ Stephen, Eric (January 31, 2023). "Dodgers sign Tony Gonsolin to 2-year contract, avoid arbitration". SB Nation. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  24. ^ "Dodgers RHP Tony Gonsolin won't be ready for Opening Day". ESPN. March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  25. ^ Stephen, Eric (April 26, 2023). "Tony Gonsolin activated off injured list, Dodgers option Andre Jackson". SB Nation. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  26. ^ Wheeler, Stacie (August 18, 2023). "Win streak snapped at 11 after Tony Gonsolin serves up 5 home runs". Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  27. ^ Wexler, Sarah (August 19, 2023). "Gonsolin to IL, 'unlikely' to pitch again this season". mlb.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  28. ^ "Gonsolin to undergo Tommy John surgery". mlb.com. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  29. ^ Stephen, Eric (September 24, 2024). "Dodgers notes: Clayton Kershaw in 'holding pattern,' Tony Gonsolin won't be active this week". SB Nation. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  30. ^ Stephen, Eric (November 22, 2024). "Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers avoid arbitration with $5.4 million deal for 2025". SB Nation. Retrieved November 22, 2024.