Dodgers News: Tony Gonsolin won’t make opening roster

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin requires more time to prepare for the 2020 season.

As the Los Angeles Dodgers are less than one week away from the beginning of the 2020 season, it appears one of their young and upcoming starters won’t be part of the opening day roster. According to MLB’s transaction page (and noted by LA Times writer Jorge Castillo), Tony Gonsolin has been optioned to the Dodgers’ alternate training site. The move was later announced by the Dodgers.

Manager Dave Roberts provided an update on Gonsolin last week, explaining that the right-hander was behind in building up his arm strength to starter’s length. Several Dodger starters – Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood, and Ross Stripling – have been able to pitch at least five innings during intra-squad games. Gonsolin isn’t quite there yet, as he reported to camp five days late.

“Anything’s possible,” Roberts said in answering whether Gonsolin would be considered for the team’s open rotation spot (via the OC Register). “But really if you’re looking at what’s transpired in the last two, three weeks for Tony specifically, we’ll build him up as much as we can but he’s certainly behind guys who are built up for five innings.”

Tony Gonsolin will build up his arm strength at USC

The Dodgers are using USC as their alternate training site for players included on their 60-man player pool who won’t be part of the 30-man roster to begin the season. MLB is allowing teams to carry extra players over the first month of the season to help ease the transition into the compressed schedule. After two weeks, clubs must cut rosters from 30 to 28, and then to the traditional 26-man number by the end of the fourth week of the season.

While Gonsolin will stretch out his arm at USC, another starter, already developed into a matching Ace to Kershaw, will be treated differently. Walker Buehler made his summer camp debut on Friday, looking exceptional, but only pitched two innings. He is expected to start the season in the rotation, but the Dodgers have indicated they will be “careful” in how they manage his workload.

After David Price opted out of playing this season, a rotation spot opened for a list of strong candidates that includes Gonsolin. However, it appears Ross Stripling has the early lead to replace Price, as he has pitched several intra-squad games. Stripling would join Kershaw, Buehler, Alex Wood, and Julía Urias to make up the starting rotation.

Gonsolin pitched 5.2 innings without allowing a run in Cactus League play back in March. He is coming off his debut season in the majors when he went 4-2 with a 2.93 ERA.

With the uncertainty surrounding player health this season, it will probably only be a matter of time before the Dodgers need to reach into their pitching depth and call Gonsolin back up to the major league squad.