Gavin Stone is almost two years removed from his last major league start, but this dude is lighting it up in Triple-A right now, making the Dodgers’ pitching depth even more ridiculous. He’s been sidelined since August after a brutal major shoulder surgery that repaired a capsule tear and partial labrum/rotator cuff damage. That’s a serious injury, but Stone is showing some serious fight.
Stone’s Blazing Comeback Stats
Let’s talk numbers because they don’t lie. Stone has allowed just two runs over 4 2/3 innings in his two starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. That’s efficiency, man! He’s absolutely carving up batters too, striking out eight of the 18 guys he’s faced. Just last Thursday, he fanned five batters in three innings, capping it off by striking out his final four in a row. Remember, this is the same guy who led the Dodgers with 25 starts and 140 1/3 innings pitched in the season before his injury. He knows how to go deep, and he’s showing flashes of that old form.
The Dodgers’ Pitching Stack Just Got Deeper
Even with Stone’s impressive rehab, the Dodgers’ pitching staff is already stacked to the rafters. They traded for Tarik Skubal to pair up with Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the top. Blake Snell just came back from three months on the injured list and immediately punched out 10 guys in six strong innings on Tuesday. And don’t forget Tyler Glasnow, who struck out eight for Oklahoma City on Friday in his third rehab start and is expected to get one more minor league start before rejoining the big club. Oh, and Shohei Ohtani might even be able to pitch in October. That’s just wild!
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows Stone is far down the depth chart this season, but they are keeping their options open. Roberts said they see Stone potentially coming out of the bullpen or making a spot start if he builds up. He put it perfectly: “Obviously between now until the end of September, roles can change, but for now it’s just let’s get him built up, let’s sustain health. That’s something we haven’t been able to do the last couple of years with Gavin.” The goal is clear: get Stone healthy and ready. With that kind of talent battling its way back, the Dodgers pitching staff, which already rode a stellar quartet to a title last season, is looking absolutely unfair.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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