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Tony Gonsolin sprained his left ankle during morning drills on the backfields at Camelback Ranch on March 6, and missed the first 24 games of the 2023 season, before making his season debut on April 26 against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Gonsolin is coming off of a dream season that saw him post a 2.14 ERA in 24 starts, go 16-1, and pitched in the All-Star Game for the first time. But he also missed the six weeks at the end of the regular season with a right forearm strain.
The Dodgers avoided salary arbitration with Gonsolin in January, signing the pitcher for two years and $6.65 million.
The ankle injury in camp, plus the time missed while recovering, essentially put Gonsolin back near square one in terms of building up arm strength in preparation for the regular season. In Gonsolin’s one Cactus League start this year, he threw 41 pitches in 2⅓ innings on March 3 against the Angels.
With Gonsolin out for the start of the season, a rotation spot opened up, with Ryan Pepiot, Michael Grove, and Andre Jackson all in the mix to make starts for the Dodgers to open the season. Pepiot beat out Grove for the fifth starter spot, but Pepiot then landed on the injured list himself with a left oblique strain. Grove made four starts, allowing 15 runs in 16 innings before straining his right groin, which opened up a spot for Gonsolin’s return.
Gonsolin made one rehab starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City, striking out seven while allowing two runs in three-plus innings on April 20 in Albuquerque, throwing 57 pitches.