Sunday’s intrasquad game marked the first time Dane Dunning had thrown a (somewhat) competitive pitch off a mound in almost two years. After a bout of arm soreness in an otherwise extremely successful 2018 caused the young right-hander to miss some time, Dunning underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2019. Now, a year and a third later, not only has the former Florida Gator made his return to the mound, but he also saw his chances to make his Major League debut in 2020 increase.
Dunning faced what could be a White Sox starting lineup at some point this season on Sunday, going up against a stout offense of Anderson, Robert, Abreu, Grandal, Jimenez, Mazara, McCann, Mendick and Madrigal. The 25-year old held his own and allowed just two hits in three scoreless innings. He struck out one. Not bad for someone who threw his first live BP since TJ in March, followed by only bullpen sessions since.
NEW ELBOW, NEW CHANGEUP
Those bullpens did turn out to be quite useful, though. Dunning, always eager to learn from others, adopted a different grip for his changeup after a conversation with new White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal. It has made the pitch even better than it was before, giving Dunning a pretty complete arsenal: a curveball (courtesy of James Shields), a changeup (courtesy of Grandal), and several different fastballs (courtesy of Dunning). Best of all, as evidenced by Sunday’s start: the stuff plays against many of the best hitters the Sox have to offer.
Sunday’s outing showed a glimpse of what the White Sox sought to acquire when they traded Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Dunning (oh, and some guys named Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez). If anything, Dunning’s Sunday performance gave the White Sox organization and its fans some peace of mind and reassurance of its pitching depth in a week dominated by the news of Michael Kopech opting out of the season.
Dane Dunning throws to Yasmani Grandal. Very jealous of both of them right now pic.twitter.com/GjOYbl0rvy
— janice 🇵🇭 (@scuriiosa) July 12, 2020
Ah yes, no Kopech in 2020. Where does that leave Dunning? With a healthy Giolito, Lopez, Cease, Keuchel, and Rodon — and with Gio Gonzalez available as well — the rotation is all but set for the Sox, going into the abbreviated season. It wouldn’t be the first time Dunning is left as an extra starter on a team stacked with arms. Back in his days with Florida, Dunning was used as a swingman often, starting only 20 games over 65 appearances.
The prospect of not having a set position does not appear to faze Dunning, who told reporters after Sunday’s game “If they need me to relieve or start, I feel I’ll definitely be able to do that.”
Dunning has not thrown a competitive pitch in two years, and the organization will not want to rush into things with the surgically repaired arms in their stable — Jimmy Lambert being another example. However, if Sunday’s performance cleared up anything, it’s that Dunning should be ready when called upon, in any way possible.
Photo credit: YouTube video still
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Leaving Cease out of the rotation?
You know what, that’s 100% an oversight on my part. I’m going to add him immediately. Thanks for the heads-up.
I’m disappointed in not being able to see Kopech play.