Tony Gonsolin Bio
Anthony Dennis Gonsolin, known professionally as Tony Gonsolin, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Born on May 14, 1994, in Vacaville, California, Gonsolin has spent the majority of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is recognized as a 2022 MLB All-Star and a 2020 World Series champion.
Early Life and Background
Tony Gonsolin was born and raised in Vacaville, California, where he attended Vacaville High School. As a senior, he posted a 4-1 record with a 2.60 earned run average, showing early promise as a pitcher. After going undrafted in the 2012 MLB draft, he chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level rather than give up on the sport.
Gonsolin played college baseball for the Saint Mary’s Gaels at St. Mary’s College of California, developing his skills as a starter over multiple seasons. In the summer of 2015, he gained additional experience with the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League, a respected collegiate summer circuit. During his senior year in 2016, he recorded a 3-3 record with a 3.86 ERA across 18 games, performance that helped raise his draft stock.
Path to Major League Baseball
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Gonsolin in the ninth round of the 2016 MLB draft, beginning his professional journey within a strong organizational system. He began his first professional season in 2016 splitting time between the rookie-level Ogden Raptors and the Single-A Great Lakes Loons, working primarily as a relief pitcher. He posted a 1-2 record with a 3.77 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 19 relief appearances during that debut season.
In 2017, Gonsolin continued to develop with Great Lakes and the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, finishing 7-6 with a 3.86 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 42 games. The Dodgers then converted him from a reliever into a starting pitcher ahead of the 2018 season, a decision that paid off when he went 10-2 with a 2.60 ERA and 155 strikeouts over 128 innings across 26 starts at Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa. The Dodgers named him their minor league pitcher of the year for 2018, signaling that a major league call-up was on the horizon.
Tony Gonsolin Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
Tony Gonsolin made his MLB debut on June 26, 2019, starting against the Arizona Diamondbacks after being called up from the Oklahoma City Dodgers. He pitched four innings in that debut outing and also singled in his first major league at-bat. He earned his first career save on July 30 against the Colorado Rockies and picked up his first major league win on August 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out seven over six shutout innings. He finished his rookie regular season with a 4-2 record and a 2.93 ERA across 11 games and six starts.
During the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular season, Gonsolin went 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 46 strikeouts across 46 and two-thirds innings. He then played a notable role in the Dodgers’ postseason run, starting Game 2 and appearing in relief in Game 7 of the NLCS, and earning starts in both Game 2 and Game 6 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Although he took the loss in Game 2, he helped the Dodgers clinch the championship in Game 6. Following that championship run, Baseball America named him its 2020 Rookie of the Year.
Major League Breakthrough (2021-2022)
The 2021 season was interrupted for Gonsolin by a right shoulder inflammation issue that sent him to the injured list in early April, but he returned to the Dodgers rotation in June. His shoulder flared up again late in July, causing another injured list stint, yet he returned in September and finished the year with a 4-1 record and a 3.23 ERA in 13 starts. He also made three relief appearances in the 2021 NLCS.
In 2022, Gonsolin produced the best season of his career to that point, opening the year 11-0 with a 2.02 ERA and earning a selection to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game. Although he took the loss in the All-Star Game, he finished the regular season at 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 119 strikeouts, becoming a key part of the Dodgers rotation. A forearm strain limited him late in the year, and he made one playoff start in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres.
Free Agent Era (2023-Present)
On January 31, 2023, Gonsolin signed a two-year, $6.65 million contract to avoid salary arbitration, but an ankle injury in spring training delayed his start to the season. He rejoined the Dodgers rotation on April 26 and made 20 starts, going 8-5 with a 4.98 ERA. After struggling with arm issues throughout the year, he underwent Tommy John surgery in late August, ending his 2023 campaign and forcing him to miss the entire 2024 season while recovering.
Despite the injury concerns, Gonsolin signed a $5.4 million contract with the Dodgers for the 2025 season to avoid salary arbitration. He began 2025 on the injured list after a back injury suffered while lifting weights during spring training and rejoined the rotation on April 30. Across seven starts, he went 3-2 with a 5.00 ERA before right elbow discomfort sent him back to the injured list in early June. On August 12, it was revealed that he had undergone internal brace and flexor repair surgery on his shoulder, ending his 2025 season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on November 6, and he elected free agency on November 12.
Notable Events and Milestones
Tony Gonsolin’s most defining moment came during the 2020 World Series, where he started two games and helped the Los Angeles Dodgers capture a championship over the Tampa Bay Rays. He followed that up with a 2022 All-Star selection and a historic 16-1 regular season, cementing his place as a reliable starter when healthy. A rougher milestone came on August 18, 2023, when he allowed 10 earned runs and five home runs against the Miami Marlins, tying a Dodgers team record for most home runs allowed in a single game.
Tony Gonsolin Career Wins
Through the 2025 season, Tony Gonsolin has compiled a 37-13 win-loss record with a 3.34 career earned run average and 387 strikeouts across his time in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His career wins have come entirely during his Dodgers tenure, with his most dominant stretch occurring during the 2022 regular season.
MLB Highlights
Gonsolin’s first major league win came on August 5, 2019, when he delivered six shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out seven. His peak regular season came in 2022, when he went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA and earned an All-Star nod. He added eight wins in 2023, four in 2021, and three in 2025 before injuries cut his seasons short, and he also posted two wins in the shortened 2020 campaign that ended with a World Series title.
| Team | Years | Wins | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 2019-2023, 2025 | 37 | 3.34 | 387 |
Tony Gonsolin Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Anthony Dennis Gonsolin grew up in Vacaville, California, and was raised in that community before attending St. Mary’s College of California. He played summer collegiate baseball with the Madison Mallards in 2015, an experience that helped shape his professional career. His early development in Vacaville and his college years with the Saint Mary’s Gaels remain the most documented details of his personal background.
2025 Season Performance
Tony Gonsolin’s 2025 campaign was defined by setbacks from the outset, as a back injury suffered during spring training placed him on the injured list before Opening Day. He returned to the Dodgers rotation on April 30 and made seven starts, going 3-2 with a 5.00 ERA, before right elbow discomfort once again forced him to the injured list in early June. Subsequent testing revealed the need for internal brace and flexor repair surgery on his shoulder, ending his 2025 season prematurely.
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated Gonsolin for assignment on November 6, 2025, and he elected free agency on November 12, 2025, closing out his long tenure with the organization. With two major arm surgeries in three years, his outlook for the 2026 season will depend heavily on his rehabilitation progress. Despite the injuries, his track record as a 2022 All-Star and 2020 World Series champion keeps him an intriguing option for clubs seeking rotation depth.
