Los Angeles Dodgers fans troubled as pitcher Tony Gonsolin to go on Injured List with left ankle sprain: "Cancel Spring Training" "I hate my life"
According to multiple reports, the Los Angeles Dodgers will open the season without starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin due to a sprained left ankle. Gonsolin, who made a career-high 24 starts last season and signed a two-year contract extension in early February, suffered the injury during a spring training workout last week.
While Gonsolin resumed a throwing program last week, the Dodgers are going slow with his recovery and will not rush him back in time for opening day, according to CBS Sports.
Gonsolin, who finished a sparkling 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 119 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings last season, figured to fit into the back end of a deep Los Angeles Dodgers rotation. He prospectively lined up as one of the best No. 4 or 5 starters on any team's starting staff, and Dodgers fans are troubled by his absence.
Gonsolin joins a who's-who of prominent players to have suffered injuries or other malaises during spring training. The rash of medical troubles coming out of a number of training camps has fans up in arms.
If fans aren't complaining about players getting hurt in spring training, then they are complaining about players getting hurt in the World Baseball Classic. Although Gonsolin was not on the Team USA roster and suffered the injury in a Los Angeles Dodgers training uniform, fans were still blaming the international tournament for the hurler's troubles.
It's not known at this point how long Gonsolin will be out or whether his ankle injury is worse than a sprain (X-rays have ruled out a fracture), but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Ryan Pepiot, Michael Grove or Andre Jackson will get a crack at filling Gonsolin's spot in the rotation. Fans seem to think that Pepiot has an inside track on the spot.
Pepiot, 25 years of age, made his big league debut last season, going 3-0 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in nine games – seven of which were starts. He has a 1.13 ERA and WHIP in four starts this spring.
Los Angeles Dodgers rotation still in good stead
While Gonsolin's absence hurts, the Los Angeles Dodgers still boast a solid starting rotation on paper. From 1-5, the Dodgers feature Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, Noah Syndergaard, Dustin May and likely Pepiot.