GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts bowed to the obvious for the first time Friday, acknowledging that Tony Gonsolin opening the season in the starting rotation “is not going to happen.”
Gonsolin has begun a throwing program this week and has been long-tossing out to 150 feet. It has been two weeks since he sprained his left ankle during a workout.
“He’s closer than he was yesterday. But I don’t know what that means,” Roberts said when asked if Gonsolin was getting close to throwing off a mound.
Gonsolin had just one start in the Cactus League before his injury, going three innings against the Angels two weeks ago. That means he will need to start his buildup from scratch once he gets cleared to throw off a mound.
Gonsolin’s absence makes the final two weeks of Cactus League action more important for Ryan Pepiot and Michael Grove, Roberts said. The Dodgers will most likely choose between those two to replace Gonsolin in the rotation to start the season.
“Obviously we’re still making decisions and evaluating,” Roberts said, mentioning Andre Jackson as a possible candidate as well. “To just say that this is a chance to audition or earn, compete for an opportunity, I think that’s fair because that’s the truth.”
Pepiot started Friday against the Chicago Cubs and allowed one run over three innings. He came out of the game at that point due to discomfort in his side, Roberts said. Michael Grove is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox.
“I don’t want to look too much into it or else I can go down a rabbit hole and try to press too much, which is kind of one of the things I did last year,” Pepiot said about a potential competition to fill in for Gonsolin. “So I’m just going out, executing pitches, continuing to get work every single day. Whether it’s me, whether it’s Michael or somebody else, we all have a job to do and help the team win. So whoever they feel is the best opportunity to do that then all power to them.”
SECOND BASE
The ongoing project to make rookie Miguel Vargas’ defense acceptable at second base has been successful so far. Roberts said he is “much more” comfortable with Vargas there than he was at the start of spring training.
“It’s one of those things where the work started in the winter,” Roberts said. “I guess it’s just a bet on the person, the player, to kind of try to dominate the defense and get up to speed. Each day, each week, there’s been marked improvement. Today, he – turned some nice double plays and that’s what we need from him.”
Vargas and shortstop Chris Taylor turned three double plays in five innings against the Cubs, two started by Vargas.
“I’ve improved a lot,” Vargas said when asked to rate his defensive progress. “I’ve got more information now than I did in the offseason. I’ve got a better relationship with my teammates. They’ve helped me out too.”
Working with fellow Spanish speaker Miguel Rojas has been very helpful, Vargas said, and has helped him with details like “glove positioning (and) the footwork for making the throw to first base.”
Roberts also praised Rojas for his mentorship.
“He’s been great,” Roberts said. “For me, it’s good because Miguel Rojas is so fundamentally sound. It’s not going to be lost how important that is for Miguel Vargas. That’s just going to speed up that learning curve quickly.”
FREEMAN RETURN
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman took batting practice in the cages at Camelback Ranch for the second consecutive day Friday. Freeman said he has felt no recurrence of the tightness in his right hamstring that caused him to leave Tuesday’s World Baseball Classic game early and has tested at full strength in the exams done by the Dodgers’ training staff.
Freeman is expected to DH in Saturday’s Cactus League game against the White Sox and then play first base Sunday.
FAMILIAR FACE
Cody Bellinger faced his former team for the first time since being non-tendered in December and signing with the Cubs as a free agent. He did not make himself available to reporters but Roberts said he spoke with him on the field before the game.
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“I think the whole net of it was a great run for Cody, for the Dodgers,” Roberts said. “I wish we could have done more to support him and get some more consistency for him. But our hope is that the change of scenery will kind of tap into something that’s already in there that we know. I’ll always root for Cody.”
Asked what more the Dodgers could have done to turn around Bellinger’s offensive decline over the past three seasons, Roberts sighed.
“I don’t know,” he said. “But as a coach, you want to feel like you do everything you can. I think we did. But obviously some of it has to do with the player, and Cody would be the first to tell you that. But also, as far as an organization, you always want to do the most you can for a player.
“Sometimes you just don’t have any answers. It’s not an indictment on anyone.”