Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Stone made an impressive return in his first game back and is now part of the team's starting rotation.

When the Dodgers began spring training, the starting rotation appeared largely finalized, yet Gavin Stone remains very much in consideration.

Having been sidelined from the major leagues for almost 18 months with a shoulder injury, Stone made his comeback today during the Dodgers’ 11-3 win against the Cleveland Guardians, delivering a flawless inning. The right-hander threw 15 pitches, 11 of which were strikes, and recorded two strikeouts using his signature changeup.

“That’s my go-to pitch,” Stone said. “Without it, I’d be lost. It’s the pitch that puts the least strain on my shoulder and has never caused me pain, so I’ve practiced it extensively and kept working on the feel. Seeing the results today was really encouraging.”

This marks Stone's return since his major league debut in 2024, when he led the Dodgers’ pitching staff with a 3.53 ERA over 140.1 innings before a right shoulder injury ended his season. In October 2024, he underwent shoulder surgery, causing him to miss two World Series runs.

Two years ago, he was a key starting pitcher for the team, but last year Stone vanished from the spotlight. Now, he is preparing to return to the major league mound, and the Dodgers are eager to see how he will contribute to their quest for a third consecutive championship.

“First, his strong performance in 2024 gives him confidence to regain his form,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Second, missing out on two World Series appearances will fuel his hunger—the bitterness of not being with us at the end is a powerful motivator.”

Stone is adjusting to a starter’s routine, but his exact role this year remains undecided. With Blake Snell unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, there is at least one vacancy in the starting rotation, possibly more. Roberts mentioned that Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan have essentially locked down the fifth and sixth starter spots but still need to prove themselves in spring training.

This opens the door for Stone, along with River Ryan, Justin Wrobleski, and Landon Knack, to push the Dodgers into making a decision during spring training. Stone intends to seize this opportunity.

“For me, the goal is to make the roster through spring training,” Stone said. “I’m doing everything I can to achieve that.”

Stone and Ryan (recovering from Tommy John surgery) might be at a disadvantage in the rotation competition since both missed an entire season. The Dodgers do not necessarily impose strict pitch count limits on them, but uncertainty always exists for players coming off long-term injuries.

Regarding Stone, he remained highly effective in 2024 until his shoulder could no longer hold up, which already says a lot to the Dodgers. Regardless of how many innings he can pitch, the team hopes he brings that same toughness this season.

“His value lies in his ability to take the mound, and he never wants the ball taken away from him. Now that he’s healthy,” Roberts said, “it’s hard for me to put any limits on him in 2026 because this guy always overdelivers and exceeds expectations.”

After a lengthy rehabilitation process, Stone feels he has gained good command over his mix of seven pitches. Today, he relied almost exclusively on his four-seam fastball and changeup, also throwing a cutter and a slider. At this stage, recovering after high pitch counts remains his biggest challenge.

“There will definitely be soreness,” Stone said, “but I expect it to be the good kind of soreness.”

As spring training intensity increases this year, Stone is focused on doing his job and getting outs. His bigger goal is to return to his pre-injury form. If the Dodgers get a Stone close to his 2024 version this year, their already formidable pitching staff will be even stronger.

“Two years ago, he was on track to become one of our core pitchers. It’s great to see him back on the mound, pitching like he used to,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman, who hit a two-run double in this spring training debut. “This is good for him, boosting both his confidence and mindset. All the effort he’s put in is paying off. Hopefully, he keeps rolling from here.”