Another setback has struck the Los Angeles Dodgers’ already-depleted starting rotation, as right-hander Tony Gonsolin was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort. The news adds to a growing list of injuries that has forced the Dodgers to cycle through a league-high 13 different starting pitchers so far in 2025.
Any elbow issue is troubling for a pitcher, but Gonsolin’s situation carries added weight given his recent history. The 31-year-old only returned to the mound this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023, a procedure that sidelined him for nearly 20 months.
Another Blow to Los Angeles Dodgers Rotation as Tony Gonsolin Lands on IL with Elbow Discomfort
Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the heightened concern surrounding Gonsolin’s latest injury: “It is,” Roberts said Saturday. “That’s why we wanted to be cautious and take him offline. I don’t want to get too far ahead of it until we get the scans.”
Thankfully, early signs suggest the damage may not be severe. On Sunday, Roberts provided a more encouraging update, noting that Gonsolin’s ulnar collateral ligament remains intact. The team decided to preemptively sideline him after determining he wouldn’t be ready to make his next scheduled start.
“Given where the pitching is, it just seemed logical,” Roberts explained. “A guy that wasn’t going to make his next start—we get him off line, give him a handful of days not to play catch. Hopefully the discomfort subsides and we get him throwing again soon.”
It’s been a bumpy road for Gonsolin in 2025. After entering spring training as a leading candidate to secure the fifth rotation spot, a back injury delayed his season debut by a month. Despite that, he managed to make seven starts, going 3–2 with a 5.00 ERA over 36 innings. In his last outing, Gonsolin struck out six across five solid innings against the Mets.
His injury arrives amid a flurry of roster moves. On Saturday, the Dodgers activated relievers Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates from the IL, and designated Chris Stratton for assignment. Gonsolin’s placement on the IL was the final corresponding move.
He now joins an ever-growing list of injured Dodgers starters, including Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan, Kyle Hurt, River Ryan, and Michael Grove. The relentless churn of injuries has challenged the team’s depth and stability on the mound.
Gonsolin had emerged as one of the steadier arms in a rotation hit hard by attrition. Now, the Dodgers are left once again reshuffling their pitching puzzle, hoping the latest elbow scare proves to be minor—and temporary.