The Dodgers introduced that beginning pitcher Tony Gonsolin underwent season-ending elbow surgical procedure on Tuesday — and that wasn’t even essentially the most troubling damage replace of the day.
As an alternative, in what supervisor Dave Roberts described as the most recent “massive blow” to the membership’s reeling bullpen, right-hander Brock Stewart was positioned on the injured listing with what Roberts mentioned was shoulder irritation.
The Dodgers are hopeful that they caught Stewart’s damage early. Each Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman expressed confidence he can be again for the stretch run of the season.
Nonetheless, Stewart was acquired on the commerce deadline lower than two weeks in the past with the intention to bolster a struggling reduction corps already lacking Michael Kopech, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and Brusdar Graterol. Now, simply 4 outings into his return to the group, Stewart represents yet one more query mark for a workforce that has been brief on solutions amid a current 12-19 skid.
“Clearly, he’s a giant a part of what we’re attempting to do,” Roberts mentioned. “So to not have him accessible hurts.”
In keeping with Roberts, Stewart had been coping with shoulder soreness over the past 4 days, coinciding along with his most up-to-date outing final Saturday in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Stewart is scheduled to be extra completely examined Wednesday, however Friedman famous that preliminary handbook testing on his shoulder was encouraging.
“Feels like we caught it on the very entrance finish,” Friedman mentioned. “So from our standpoint, we felt like, let’s be sensible right here, take him off line. We’re optimistic that he’ll be again.”
Laborious-throwing right-hander Edgardo Henriquez was referred to as up in Stewart’s place.
Stewart, who started his profession as a beginning pitcher with the Dodgers from 2016-2019 earlier than reinventing himself as a hard-throwing reliever with the Minnesota Twins over the past three years, represented the Dodgers’ solely bullpen improve on the deadline.
On the time, the shortage of additional motion felt like a danger for a membership that ranks twenty first within the majors in reliever ERA this season (4.23).
However in Stewart, who was acquired at a comparatively low value, with solely outfielder James Outman going again to Minnesota in return, the Dodgers’ hoped they’d not solely discovered a right-handed alternative for Evan Phillips, who’s out for the season due to a Tommy John surgical procedure, however somebody able to shoring up one of many largest weak spots on the roster.
“I feel a lot of that is about figuring out the particular person you’re buying,” Friedman mentioned. “And the historical past we had with Brock, clearly, was actually useful with that.”
Nevertheless, Stewart took a loss in his second recreation with the workforce, giving up a tie-breaking run within the ninth in opposition to the St. Louis Cardinals final week. He was tagged for one more run his subsequent trip. And although he bounced again with a scoreless inning in opposition to the Blue Jays over the weekend, his shoulder flared up, marking the third time for the reason that begin of final 12 months that shoulder troubles have pressured him onto the injured listing (he twice went on the 60-day IL final 12 months due to shoulder accidents).
“From our standpoint, we felt just like the upside, and hopefully we nonetheless have the prospect to appreciate that, far outweighed the chance,” Friedman mentioned when requested how a lot concern the workforce had over Stewart’s damage historical past earlier than buying him. “However yeah, undoubtedly got here with some danger. That’s the place betting on the particular person helps. It doesn’t assure an consequence, however it no less than will increase your possibilities. We’re optimistic we’ll nonetheless get there.”
Certainly, the Dodgers predict Stewart, Kopech (who’s eligible to return from the 60-day IL in about two weeks), Yates (who will throw a reside batting observe Wednesday), Scott (who will throw a reside BP on Thursday) and Graterol (who continues to be anticipated again from offseason shoulder surgical procedure in September) will all be again earlier than the top of the season.
However having so many guys battling accidents, Roberts conceded, is “an added layer of uncertainty.”
Stewart’s arrival was supposed to assist quell considerations. Now, his damage has solely added to their troubles.
Gonsolin out for 12 months
Within the different massive damage information Tuesday, Friedman mentioned that Gonsolin underwent an inner brace and flexor tendon surgical procedure that can sideline him for no less than the subsequent eight to 10 months.
Out since early June due to elbow discomfort, Gonsolin was already a protracted shot to return this season. And given the relative well being of the present rotation (in addition to Roki Sasaki’s impending return from a shoulder damage), he was unlikely to issue closely into their postseason plans.
Nonetheless, it represents yet one more setback for the previous All-Star right-hander, who missed the top of 2023 and all of final season with a Tommy John surgical procedure.
