A two-way star at St. Mary's, Gonsolin led the Gaels in hitting (.308) as a sophomore, steals (12) and saves (seven) as a junior and saves again (six) as a senior in 2016. His stuff took a huge jump after he became a full-time pitcher after signing for $2,500 in the ninth round, and he maintained it when he moved from the bullpen to the rotation in 2018. He made his big league debut last year, logging a 2.89 ERA in six starts and posting two wins and a save in five relief appearances.
Gonsolin's fastball soared from 88-92 mph at the start of his first full pro season to touching 100 mph by the end of it, and he maintains a 92-97 mph heater with high spin rates as a starter. His most devastating weapon is an upper-80s splitter that dives at the plate and serves as his changeup. Both his 78-82 mph curveball and 85-89 mph slider/cutter are solid offerings, and while the latter used to rank as his fourth-best pitch, it was his most effective offering during his first taste of the big leagues.
The athleticism that helped Gonsolin excel as a two-way player in college helps him repeat his delivery and provide consistent strikes. With his arsenal, he could be a legitimate No. 3 starter if he can further refine his command. He also could serve as a quality multi-inning reliever on a Dodgers club loaded with rotation options.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Splitter: 70 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Gonsolin starred as a two-way player at St. Mary's, leading the Gaels in batting (.308) as a sophomore, steals (12) and saves (seven) as a junior and saves again (six) as a senior. Though the Dodgers liked his tools as an outfielder, they preferred him as a pitcher and have seen him consistently improve since he moved full-time to the mound after signing for $2,500 as a ninth-rounder in 2016. His stuff took off in his first full season as a pro and continued to impress after he shifted from the bullpen to the rotation in 2018, when he topped the system in wins (10), ERA (2.60) and strikeouts (155 in 128 innings).
Gonsolin began 2017 with an 88-92 mph fastball but was hitting 100 by the end of that season, and he operated at 93-97 mph as a starter in '18 while maintaining his velocity into the late innings. His upper-80s splitter devastates hitters with the way it dives at the plate, and his low-80s curveball has become a consistent plus offering with nice shape. He also uses a mid-80s slider to give hitters a different look.
The athleticism that helped Gonsolin thrive as a two-way player in college also allows him to throw strikes on a regular basis. He still needs to refine his command, and Los Angeles would like to see him work inside and up in the zone more with his fastball. He has progressed from senior sign to potential No. 3 starter rapidly, and he could be a multi-inning relief weapon this year for a Dodgers club loaded with starters.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
A two-way standout at St. Mary's, Gonsolin led the Gaels in hitting (.308) as a sophomore, steals (12) and saves (seven) as a junior and saves again (six) as a senior. The Dodgers liked his tools as an outfielder but preferred him on the mound, putting him there full-time after signing him for $2,500 as a ninth-rounder in 2016. Concentrating on pitching paid off as his stuff took a dramatic leap in his first full year as a pro.
Gonsolin opened 2017 with an 89-92 mph fastball, boosted it to 90-94 in May, started working in the mid-90s in August and touched 100 mph by season's end. Los Angeles moved him from the bullpen to the rotation in 2018, and he has operated at 93-97 mph and maintained his velocity deep into his starts. His secondary pitches also have gained power and he now has an upper-80s splitter that bottoms out at the plate, a low-80s curveball that can be a hammer at times and a mid-80s slider.
The athleticism that served Gonsolin well as a position player also helps him find the strike zone on a regular basis. Los Angeles originally planned on developing him as a multi-inning reliever this year but couldn't ignore the fact that he has all the ingredients to become a mid-rotation starter. He has contended for the Minor League strikeout lead and advanced to Double-A in July.
