Dodgers Pitcher Admits He Was Tipping Pitches 'All Last Season'
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone has made the Dodgers' five-man starting rotation for the 2024 season. Stone, who made his MLB debut for the Dodgers in May 2023, is looking to rebound off a tough rookie season with the Dodgers.
In his first season with the Dodgers, Stone struggled during eight appearances. He recorded a 9.00 ERA and just 22 strikeouts across 31 innings pitched. However, Stone has since realized where he went wrong — tipping pitches. Stone revealed that he was tipping his pitches during the 2023 season, leading to his struggles and allowing batters to capitalize when he was at the mound, via Noah Furtado of the Los Angeles Times.
Since, Stone has adjusted by getting a new glove and changing up his stretching routine to avoid giving away what pitch he's planning to use next.
It will be key for Stone to continue to make a good impression as he takes the No. 5 spot since several of the other Dodgers pitchers are injured. The Dodgers have multiple pitchers, including Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, and Shohei Ohtani, who are either joining the team to pitch late in the season or won't pitch until late in the year.
If Stone wants to keep his spot in the rotation, there won't be much room for error before the Dodgers decide to replace him with one of the currently injured guys, or another prospect.
The good news is Stone has looked better in Spring Training action in 2024. In four starts and 14 innings pitched, Stone gave up nine hits, five earned runs, one home run and two walks. He also struck out 13 batters with a 3.21 ERA.
