Former Dodgers All-Star is trying to stage a comeback with Royals despite long-term injury

Tony Gonsolin's journey with the Kansas City Royals is starting the same way his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers ended, on the IL. The Royals signed Gonsolin to a one-year deal earlier this week, and immediately placed him on the 15-day IL.

Before the Dodgers assembled a starting rotation littered with All-Stars, Gonsolin was kind of that dude. In three of his first four seasons, he posted an ERA under 3.00, finishing fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2020 and being selected to the All-Star team in 2022.

After that, injuries had derailed Gonsolin's final years in LA. Since the start of the 2023 season, he's only made 27 starts with 20 of those starts happening in 2023. Tommy John Surgery at the end of the 2023 season wiped away his 2024 campaign, and while he was positioning for a return last year, a back injury caused an initial delay before he made seven starts between the end of April and the start of June.

Gonsolin returned to the IL last June with elbow inflammation, and underwent internal brace surgery two months later. The initial timeline on his return was around 10 months, but in need of 40-man roster flexibility, the Dodgers designated Gonsolin for assignment over the offseason. Instead of accepting an outright assignment, Gonsolin elected free agency.

Tony Gonsolin is abruptly back in baseball, inking a deal with the Kansas City Royals

Since Gonsolin hasn't been with a team since his departure from the Dodgers, it's unclear just how far along he is in his recovery. Based on the original timeline the Dodgers provided last summer, he should be pretty close to being ready.

The Royals are very much out of contention, taking a flier on Gonsolin is certainly aimed towards them doing some early offseason shopping. Gonsolin's deal with Kansas City includes a club-option. Assuming Gonsolin is healthy, and returns to a pitching mound before the end of the 2026 season, the Royals picking up that option feels like a formality.

Considering the injuries the Dodgers have dealt with on the pitching staff, they certainly weren't going to be the team to take a flier on their former All-Star this later into the season. Nothing against Consolin, but it's hard to view any contribution from him as an expectation. Though, here's hoping his comeback bid does yield tangible results.

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