Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone announced on Monday that he will kick off the upcoming season as part of the Dodgers’ starting rotation. This decision marks the conclusion of one of the team’s last preseason roster deliberations. Stone will join a rotation led by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, and James Paxton.
Stone’s inclusion in the starting lineup was largely expected. In his final preseason appearance on Monday, the right-hander showcased his prowess by striking out eight batters over 3.1 innings without conceding a hit against the All-Star team at Gocheok Sky Dome. Across four spring games, including three starts, Stone only allowed five hits and one run over 9.2 innings. His performance ultimately earned him the fifth spot in the rotation, beating out competitors like Michael Grove, who is likely to take on a bullpen role, and Walker Buehler, who is sidelined due to injury.
During the SportsNet LA broadcast of Monday’s game, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes praised Stone’s exceptional showing during spring training, highlighting improvements in his fastball command, as well as the addition of a cutter and a slider to his pitching repertoire. Gomes also noted a resurgence in Stone’s velocity, comparing it to his previous form two years ago.
Despite a challenging rookie season where he struggled, Stone, 25, has demonstrated significant progress this spring, resembling the promising prospect he was in 2021. The Dodgers won’t require a fifth starter until April 1st, a home game against the Giants, making Monday’s announcement more ceremonial than immediately impactful.
Nevertheless, being named as part of the starting rotation is a commendable achievement for Stone and a testament to his impressive performance during spring training.
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