Tony Gonsolin pitches 2 scoreless innings in 2024 debut in Triple-A

LOS ANGELES — Tony Gonsolin’s long road back from Tommy John surgery took an important step on Tuesday, when the Dodgers right-hander pitched two scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City, starting a minor league rehab assignment.

Tuesday was Gonsolin’s first game since August 18, 2023 with the Dodgers. He struck out three and worked around a double and single to keep Tacoma scoreless during his time on the mound.

Gonsolin threw his cutter seven times and his changeup six times, and got a combined five swinging strikes on those 13 pitches.

“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.”

Gonsolin’s timeline mirrors almost exactly that of Walker Buehler a year earlier. Buehler had his second Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repair in his right elbow on August 23, 2022, and made his first rehab start on September 3, 2023, after which he shut things down to prepare for 2024. Gonsolin’s Tommy John surgery was September 1, 2023, and his next time on the mound was September 10, 2024.

The chances of Gonsolin pitching in the majors this year are slim, but it hasn’t yet been ruled out.

“I’ve talked to Tony and I think he understands how unlikely it might be,” Roberts said. “But for him to be building up and having that playoff mindset, that if he’s called upon to be ready, that’s a win. For him to have that carrot out there as motivation, that’s totally upside.”

Because Gonsolin is on the 60-day injured list, if by some chance he is deemed ready to return in some capacity to the majors this year, the Dodgers would need to make a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster.

But at the very least, this rehab assignment is a stepping stone to 2025. Gonsolin has two years of salary arbitration remaining before he’s eligible for free agency. The right-hander made $5.4 million this season in the second year of a two-year contract signed before the 2023 season.