Gavin Stone’s journey from closer to starter and learning from Clayton Kershaw

Yahoo Sports national MLB insider Russell Dorsey sits down with Dodgers rookie pitcher Gavin Stone discussing the rookie’s journey from being a closer to a starter and how Clayton Kershaw has helped him along the way.

Video Transcript

You've had a, a different path than most guys have, you know, as a starting pitcher where you were a reliever majority of your time at Central Arkansas, you're a freshman and sophomore year close.

Uh, then your junior year you become a starter.

COVID happens short in season, you get drafted and so you haven't had as much time starting in the, you know, as a professional as other guys.

Do you feel like you're still learning how to be a starter as a professional?

You write up?

Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, especially up here.

You, you, you learn every game, like, I mean, you're learning something new every game I feel like, um, but being in the minors and stuff like that, it was, it was great just to kind of pick up on the starting, like, feel of things like, like going along in games saving the bullpen, uh, what pitches to throw and what counts, uh, what e well, ok, to throw to, uh, and then like the consistency part of it, you know, being good over a long period of time, that's what I feel like is a huge thing and being a good starter.

I love coming out of the bullpen.

I came out of the bullpen a couple times last year.

Um, but, um, yeah, I love that closing girl.

Then a dr drilling that you get and that kind of like that dog mentality that you kinda have to get into for that, for that kind of role.

Uh, and then just taking that into starting has helped a lot.

That's the biggest thing just being able to take that adrenaline when you're running out and try to bottle that up before it starts.

Is there, is there a way that you've attempted to kind of recreate that energy as a starter?

Yeah, um, scouting wise and stuff like that, I dive into what weaknesses that the hitters have and, uh, you know, knowing that weaknesses give me a lot more confidence and stuff like that.

And so it kind of calms me down, but, you know, you still always feel that whenever you're pitching in front of 40,000, 50,000 fans, I mean, that adrenaline rush is always gonna be there but knowing like, um, what I need to do to be successful, helps a lot and like calming that down.

Another one of your teammates, Clayton Kershaw, uh, a guy who's gonna be a first ballot Hall of Famer, best pitcher of his generation.

What have you talked to him about, you know, learning about pitching in L A, putting on the Dodger Blue, all the history in this organization and what things have tried to gain from him as a pitcher.

I mean, the way he attacks hitters, um, he's right at them.

Uh, and he, his mentality is, is, uh, you know what I try to emulate out there and he thinks a little bit different than other people.

Um, and it works and, and so, uh, when you watch him he's has no fear and he's, he's a dog out there.

And so, uh, kind of emulating that mentality and stuff like that is, you know what I try to do out there.