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Tony Gonsolin shows encouraging signs in return to mound: ‘Overall, just good results’

MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Tony Gonsolin #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on February 21, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin threw a scoreless inning against the Cubs Friday, recording two strikeouts. (Chris Coduto / Getty Images)

Tony Gonsolin took one small step in his return from Tommy John surgery on Friday, but at least it was in the right direction, the Dodgers right-hander throwing a scoreless first inning in a 7-3 exhibition loss to the Chicago Cubs in Sloan Park.

Gonsolin, pitching in a competitive big-league environment for the first time in 18 months, gave up a leadoff single to Ian Happ before getting Dansby Swanson to fly out to deep right field and striking out Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong with a pair of well-placed split-fingered fastballs.

Of Gonsolin’s 18 pitches, 11 were strikes. His fastball was clocked at 91-92 mph. He quickly found the command of his splitter, slider and curve after throwing his first few off-speed pitches out of the zone.

“Overall, I felt pretty good,” Gonsolin said. “It was cool to be back in like a real game. I thought the fastball execution could be a little bit better, but I thought I threw a couple of good splitties, sliders and curveballs. Overall, just good results.”

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Gonsolin was slated to pitch one-plus inning, but manager Dave Roberts opted to pull him after one and have him throw some extra pitches in the bullpen.

“I thought the command was good, the throw was good … he just looks sharp right now,” Roberts said. “I think he’s in a really good spot. Given what he’s been through the last calendar year. I think he’s going to have a really good season. Delivery looks consistent. His secondary pitches are crisp. I’m looking forward to building him up.”

Though brief, Gonsolin’s outing was a lot more encouraging than his last big-league start, when he was rocked for 10 earned runs and eight hits, including five home runs, in 3 ⅓ innings of an 11-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Aug. 18, 2023.

Roberts revealed after that game that Gonsolin, a National League All-Star in 2022, had been “dealing with an arm issue” for four to six weeks. Two weeks later, Gonsolin underwent season-ending surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, a procedure that sidelined him for all of 2024.

Gonsolin attempted a comeback last summer in hopes of boosting the team’s injury ravaged rotation in the playoffs, completing a throwing progression in August and making three rehabilitation starts in…

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