Dodgers' 2024 innings leader progressing in return from shoulder surgery

With an already deep pitching rotation for the Los Angeles Dodgers that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and others, injuries were a frequent topic during the team's World Series run in 2025.

River Ryan, Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips, and most notably, Gavin Stone missed a large majority of last season. 

Heading into Spring Training, Stone is coming off shoulder surgery and is ready to implement his name into the Dodgers' already stacked rotation.

Gavin Stone shows positive progress in return from shoulder surgery

After a team-leading 140.1 innings pitched in 2024, Stone capped off his breakout season with an 11-5 record, 3.53 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP.

With great potential and momentum, the now 27-year-old starter was shut down for the 2025 season after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a full capsule tear, and partial tears to the labrum and rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder.

Now, with over 16 months of recovery time, Stone was seen facing hitters during the Dodgers' spring camp, The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reported.

This was the first time Stone had faced live-hitters since his surgery in October of 2024.

"That went a lot better than I expected it to," Stone mentioned after the session.

Ardaya added that the starter was able to get his fastball up to 96 MPH and showed good signs with his changeup and other pitches. 

Although Stone is expected to have a limited workload for LA in 2026, he will add another option for manager Dave Roberts to have in his back pocket if injuries become a problem again.

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• Dodgers are changing Mookie Betts' spot in potent new-look lineup