Tony Gonsolin

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #5 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Gonsolin played both ways at St. Mary's and had more home runs (seven) than saves (six) his senior year. The Dodgers drafted him as a pitcher in the ninth round in 2016 and signed him for $2,500. Gonsolin rapidly added velocity once he focused on pitching and rocketed up the Dodgers system. After leading the organization in strikeouts in 2018 and winning Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year, he rose from Triple-A to the majors in 2019 and logged a 2.93 ERA in 40 innings in Los Angeles.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: After topping out at 95 mph in college, Gonsolin now holds his fastball at 93-96 mph late in games as a starter and touches 99 mph in relief. He pitches aggressively and is unafraid to throw his fastball to any part of the strike zone, beating hitters in all quadrants. Gonsolin gets ahead with his fastball and finishes batters with his devastating split-change, a plus-plus pitch in the mid-80s that dives below the zone and gets swings and misses. His above-average, low 80s curveball and average upper 80s slider show nice spin and shape and have a chance to play up with better command. Gonsolin is athletic and aggressive and stays around the strike zone, but his command is often scattered.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gonsolin has a chance to open 2020 in the Dodgers' rotation. If he stumbles, his stuff and attacking mentality will play well in high-leverage relief.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #8 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Gonsolin played both ways at St. Mary's as the Gaels starting right fielder and top reliever/spot starter. The Dodgers, intrigued by his fastball up to 95 mph, drafted Gonsolin in the ninth round in 2016 and signed him for $2,500 with the idea his velocity would jump if he focused solely on pitching. That hunch proved correct. Gonsolin sat in the low 90s when he signed, humped up to the mid-90s midway through his first full season and touched 99 mph by the end of 2017. He asked the Dodgers for the chance to start in 2018 and took advantage when they granted his request, leading the system in ERA (2.60) and strikeouts (155) as he rose to Double-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Gonsolin flashes three above-average or better pitches as a starter, though not always at the same time. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with ride and he holds that velocity into the late innings. His 78-81 mph curveball with big depth was voted the best breaking pitch in the California League, and his diving 85-88 mph split-change increasingly became a favored option. He also flashes an average upper-80s short slider. Gonsolin mixes well and throws all his pitches for strikes, although his command is a bit scattered. He remains a dangerous hitter owing to his two-way past.
  
  The Future: Gonsolin was one of the Dodgers' most asked about players in trade discussions last year, but his four-pitch mix has him firmly in the team's rotation plans. He'll see Triple-A in 2019.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #12 prospect in 2018
  A two-way player in college, Gonsolin started concentrating on pitching as a pro and keeps getting better. After converting from relief to starting this year, Gonsolin ranked second the Cal League in ERA (2.64) and third in strikeouts (106) before being promoted to Double-A. Gonsolin showed flashes of three above-average or better pitches as a starter, with a 94-96 mph fastball he held into the middle innings of outings, a big breaking curveball and a diving split-change. He struggled to get them all working at the same time—when his curveball was on his changeup was not, and vice versa—and his command could be scattered, but the stuff was undeniable. “When you have the fastball he has and he throws his offspeed for strikes and knows how to mix, that’s why he had a good season here,” Lancaster manager Fred Ocasio said. “He just kept the hitters off balance pretty much throughout and had them all guessing.” Gonsolin also displayed a notable toughness and aggressiveness and a penchant for making big pitches. If his development stalls and he has to move to the bullpen, his mix of toughness and stuff gives him a chance to be a high-leverage, late-game reliever.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #82 prospect in 2020

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Gonsolin played both ways at St. Mary’s and had more home runs (seven) than saves (six) his senior year. The Dodgers drafted him as a pitcher in the ninth round in 2016 and signed him for $2,500. Gonsolin rapidly added velocity once he focused on pitching and rocketed up the Dodgers system. After leading the organization in strikeouts in 2018 and winning Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year, he rose from Triple-A to the majors in 2019 and logged a 2.93 ERA in 40 innings in Los Angeles.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: After topping out at 95 mph in college, Gonsolin now holds his fastball at 93-96 mph late in games as a starter and touches 99 mph in relief. He pitches aggressively and is unafraid to throw his fastball to any part of the strike zone, beating hitters in all quadrants. Gonsolin gets ahead with his fastball and finishes batters with his devastating split-change, a plus-plus pitch in the mid-80s that dives below the zone and gets swings and misses. His above-average, low 80s curveball and average upper 80s slider show nice spin and shape and have a chance to play up with better command. Gonsolin is athletic and aggressive and stays around the strike zone, but his command is often scattered.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gonsolin has a chance to open 2020 in the Dodgers’ rotation. If he stumbles, his stuff and attacking mentality will play well in high-leverage relief.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Gonsolin played both ways at St. Mary's and had more home runs (seven) than saves (six) his senior year. The Dodgers drafted him as a pitcher in the ninth round in 2016 and signed him for $2,500. Gonsolin rapidly added velocity once he focused on pitching and rocketed up the Dodgers system. After leading the organization in strikeouts in 2018 and winning Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year, he rose from Triple-A to the majors in 2019 and logged a 2.93 ERA in 40 innings in Los Angeles.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: After topping out at 95 mph in college, Gonsolin now holds his fastball at 93-96 mph late in games as a starter and touches 99 mph in relief. He pitches aggressively and is unafraid to throw his fastball to any part of the strike zone, beating hitters in all quadrants. Gonsolin gets ahead with his fastball and finishes batters with his devastating split-change, a plus-plus pitch in the mid-80s that dives below the zone and gets swings and misses. His above-average, low 80s curveball and average upper 80s slider show nice spin and shape and have a chance to play up with better command. Gonsolin is athletic and aggressive and stays around the strike zone, but his command is often scattered.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gonsolin has a chance to open 2020 in the Dodgers' rotation. If he stumbles, his stuff and attacking mentality will play well in high-leverage relief.