GLENDALE, Ariz. – In what first appeared to be innocuous at first, and embarrassing at worst, Tony Gonsolin lost his footing after completing a drill on the back field of the Dodgers’ spring-training complex.
The right-hander, who missed over a month of the second half last season with a forearm strain, fell down and rolled over on the infield grass before getting to his feet to join the rest of the Dodgers pitchers lined up just outside of the third-base line.
As Gonsolin continued to step lightly on his left foot, he went into a nearby dugout where he was visited by a team trainer. He got into a motorized cart and was driven back to the clubhouse.
The Dodgers diagnosed Gonsolin with a left ankle injury and labeled him day-to-day, adding that he will not make his second start of the spring as scheduled on Wednesday night against the Seattle Mariners. Right-hander Michael Grove will make the start instead.
Manager Dave Roberts was hopeful that Gonsolin would be back soon.
“It was just some random freak thing walking off the field during (pitchers’ fielding practice) so it wasn’t fielding a ground ball,” Roberts said. “Day to day, mild left-ankle sprain so we’ll see what happens.”
The Dodgers expect to know more about the injury at some point Tuesday, which is a rare off day for the team. As of now, an MRI on the ankle is not scheduled.
Roberts had just talked about the positives of how Gonsolin was able to make two late-season appearances, including one in the playoffs, after his forearm injury last season.
“Tony has moved on from last year after last season’s kind of sour taste and went back to work,” Roberts said early Monday morning. “He looks great and understands that he wants to be able to post and if he can post, he’s going to help himself and us.
An All-Star last season, Gonsolin was 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA but ended up making 24 starts after missing all of September. He was 11-0 in the first half with a 2.02 ERA while being…
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