Los Angeles Dodgers: Fringe players to keep an eye on during Spring Training
By Jason Reed
2. Tony Gonsolin
Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May will probably forever be tied together not just because of their long locks or because they are roommates, but because the two came up at the end of 2019 on a stacked Dodgers team and impressed. May got a playoff roster spot, Gonsolin did not. Now, Gonsolin could easily get the rub.
Dave Roberts has already expressed that there is a chance that both young pitchers will start the season in the minor leagues. The Dodgers seemingly already have the starting rotation set with Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Julio Urias and Alex Wood, leaving no spot for May and Buehler.
That makes May a lock for Oklahoma City, as the Dodgers view him as a starting pitcher by trade. Gonsolin, on the other hand, has the possibility of making the transition to reliever, as stated by Roberts (h/t Dodger Blue).
Gonsolin still has competition in the bullpen as well and it is going to take a fantastic spring out of him and some bad outings out of existing arms to make room for him in the bullpen.
The Dodgers should go with whoever makes the team better and should not give seniority to a different bullpen arm if they are underperforming. Gonsolin very well could be the guy and if he pitches as he did at the end of 2019, he will prove that.
Gonsolin’s spring has already started off on a great note as he pitched a perfect first inning in the Dodgers’ first Spring Training game.