Gavin Stone Looks Sharp in Latest Dodgers Rehab Start
Gavin Stone continues to give the Los Angeles Dodgers reasons to be encouraged as he works his way back from a lengthy absence.
The right-hander delivered another impressive performance in his latest rehabilitation appearance for Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing just one hit over four scoreless innings.
His final line:
4 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 5 K
Stone did not issue a walk and struck out five in what was his fourth appearance of the rehab assignment. MLB’s official highlight described Stone as throwing four one-hit innings for the Comets, continuing a stretch of strong results as he gradually increases his workload.
For Stone, however, the significance goes far beyond four clean innings in Triple-A.
This rehabilitation assignment represents his attempt to return to the Major Leagues after undergoing major right shoulder surgery in October 2024, missing the entire 2025 season and then encountering another shoulder setback during Spring Training this year.
Every successful appearance represents another step in a comeback that has been nearly two years in the making.
Stone Continues to Miss Bats
Perhaps the most encouraging part of Stone’s rehab assignment has been his ability to generate strikeouts while limiting free passes.
Through his first four appearances with Oklahoma City, Stone has worked 11⅔ innings with 18 strikeouts, four hits allowed and only one walk. He has been charged with two earned runs over that span.
That is an impressive combination for any pitcher.
For someone working his way back from major shoulder surgery, it becomes even more notable.
Stone’s latest outing also followed an excellent performance in his previous rehab start, when he threw three perfect innings and struck out five. MLB reported that Stone threw 30 of his 38 pitches for strikes in that appearance.
He has now struck out 10 batters over his last seven innings while allowing only one hit and no runs.
The results suggest that Stone is not merely taking the mound to rebuild stamina. His stuff has been effective enough to get Triple-A hitters out consistently.
That is exactly what the Dodgers need to see before considering him for a Major League role.
The Road Back Has Been Long for Stone
Stone has not pitched in a regular-season Major League game since Aug. 31, 2024.
His breakout 2024 season ended after the Dodgers placed him on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He later underwent surgery on Oct. 9 to repair a capsule tear along with partial damage to his labrum and rotator cuff.
The procedure caused him to miss the entire 2025 season.
Stone entered 2026 hoping to finally put that rehabilitation process behind him. He made his Spring Training return in February and threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in his first game action since 2024.
Then another obstacle emerged.
Stone experienced discomfort in the surgically repaired shoulder after his Cactus League appearance and a subsequent bullpen session. Imaging revealed inflammation but, importantly, no new structural damage.
The Dodgers shut him down from throwing and restarted the rehabilitation process.
That setback delayed his return considerably.
Stone ultimately began his current Triple-A rehab assignment on Aug. 6.
Now, several weeks later, he finally appears to be building momentum.
Dodgers Remember How Valuable Stone Was in 2024
Stone’s return matters because of what he showed the last time he was healthy for an extended stretch.
In 2024, Stone emerged as one of the Dodgers’ most dependable starting pitchers.
He went 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA across 25 starts, throwing a team-high 140⅓ innings and recording 116 strikeouts.
Those innings became especially valuable during a season in which the Dodgers dealt with numerous rotation injuries.
Stone also delivered one of the best individual pitching performances of that Dodgers season when he threw a complete-game shutout against the Chicago White Sox.
His 2024 campaign ended earlier than Los Angeles hoped, but it established that Stone could handle a meaningful Major League starting workload.
The question now is not whether he has previously been capable of getting Major League hitters out.
It is how much of that pitcher the Dodgers can safely get back before the end of 2026.
A Bullpen Role Could Be the Most Realistic Path
Stone is being stretched out gradually during his rehab assignment, but that does not necessarily mean he will return to the Dodgers as a traditional starting pitcher.
Los Angeles has significantly more rotation depth now than it did during Stone’s breakout season.
And after essentially losing two full seasons of Major League innings, asking him to suddenly assume a normal starter’s workload in September would represent a considerable jump.
MLB reported during Stone’s rehab assignment that a bullpen role is considered the most likely path for him if he returns to the Dodgers this season. That would allow Los Angeles to control his workload while still potentially benefiting from his arm.
Such a role could take several forms.
Stone could provide multiple innings behind a starter.
He could help cover games when the rotation is operating on reduced workloads.
He could potentially give manager Dave Roberts another right-handed option capable of facing a lineup more than once.
And because Stone has spent much of his career as a starter, he has experience working deeper into games rather than being limited to traditional one-inning relief assignments.
The Dodgers do not need to make that decision yet.
For now, the priority is getting Stone through the rehabilitation assignment healthy.
His Control May Be the Most Encouraging Sign
Strikeouts naturally draw attention, especially when a pitcher records five in four innings.
But the zero walks in Stone’s latest appearance may be just as important.
Command and consistency can sometimes take time to return after a lengthy absence. A pitcher can regain velocity before fully regaining his ability to repeat his delivery and locate pitches.
Stone’s current strikeout-to-walk numbers suggest he is throwing with considerable control.
Through 11⅔ rehab innings, he has walked only one batter.
That is an encouraging indicator that Stone is not fighting his mechanics simply to get through innings.
It does not automatically mean he is ready for Major League hitters, where the margin for error is considerably smaller.
But it is another box checked during a rehabilitation process built around incremental progress.
Dodgers Have Time to Evaluate Stone
Stone’s rehab assignment began Aug. 6, and MLB reported that the Dodgers expected him to use much of the maximum 30-day rehabilitation window available to pitchers.
That approach makes sense.
After everything Stone has gone through, there is little reason to rush the final stages.
The Dodgers can continue increasing his workload while monitoring how the shoulder responds between appearances.
The day after he pitches may matter just as much as what happens while he is on the mound.
Can Stone recover normally?
Can he continue increasing his pitch count?
Does the shoulder remain pain-free after throwing at full intensity?
Can he maintain the same command and quality of stuff as the innings accumulate?
Those are more important questions than simply deciding when he can physically be added to the Major League roster.
Stone Is Giving the Dodgers Something to Think About
There is still a difference between dominating Triple-A hitters and being ready to contribute during a Major League postseason race.
Stone has more work ahead.
But the trend is difficult to view as anything other than positive.
His previous rehab outing produced three perfect innings with five strikeouts.
His latest appearance produced four scoreless innings, one hit, no walks and another five strikeouts.
And across the rehab assignment as a whole, he has piled up 18 strikeouts against only one walk.
After shoulder surgery wiped out his entire 2025 season and inflammation derailed his initial comeback attempt this spring, simply getting Stone back into meaningful games was an accomplishment.
Now he is doing more than just participating.
Gavin Stone is getting hitters out, missing bats and throwing strikes — and with every strong rehab outing, the possibility of seeing him back on a Major League mound becomes a little more realistic.