Dodgers News: Pitching Prospect Gavin Stone Taking Advantage of Time Around Veterans
There are different ways for prospects to approach spring training. One of them is to just work on your game, and continue to improve yourself as a player. However, the other is to do that, but to also take advantage of the time in the big league clubhouse. Dodgers No. 5 prospect Gavin Stone is doing both.
While at spring training, Stone is dominating on the field and continuing to improve his game. The 24-year-old has made three appearances, and has allowed zero runs, just two hits and has struck out six. However, that's just half of what's made this spring so successful for Stone.
The young pitcher spoke with Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation at Camelback Ranch, and talked about how much he's been able to learn from watching the team's veteran pitchers. You can watch the full interview here:
"Just watching and observing these guys like (Walker) Buehler, (Clayton) Kershaw, (Julio) Urias, all these older vets like (Noah) Syndergaard, it’s been fun," Stone said. "Just watching them and how they go about their business day-in and day-out, it just gives me a lot of hope and gives me a guideline for what I know I need to be to have that long, successful career just like they did."
This is one of the best aspects of spring for young guys, so it's very nice to see Stone taking full advantage of it. He's around one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history in Clayton Kershaw, and is learning from guys who have been among the game's best in Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Noah Syndergaard. He told McKain a little about what he's been able to pick up from these guys.
"Just their work ethic," said Stone. "You watch these guys on tv and all you see is the game, but you don’t see anything behind the scenes. So I think that’s huge, just seeing these guys and how they go about their business."
Stone isn't likely to open the season on the Opening Day roster, but if he continues to pitch at this level, he'll likely be back with these veterans sooner rather than later.
I highly recommend you watch McKain's full video, as the interview with Stone is great, and McKain also tells you just about everything you need to know about the 24-year-old rising star.
