GLENDALE, Ariz. – In my twenty years of officiating across Wisconsin’s high school hardwoods, I’ve seen more than a few shoulders go south on promising young athletes. You can see it in their eyes when they take that first awkward swing after coming back from an injury. It’s like watching someone try to start an old car that’s been sitting in a Kwik Trip parking lot during a Mukwonago winter.
But let’s get one thing straight: Gavin Stone is no ordinary pitcher. The Dodgers’ right-hander isn’t just some kid throwing meatballs up at the plate; he’s a 27-year-old who already proved his mettle when he went 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 25 starts back in 2024 before his shoulder gave out. That kind of record, especially coming from a guy who clearly has that “winner’s tax” mentality – you know, the MJ/Favre gene where losing isn’t just disappointing; it’s downright insulting.
I’ve been reffing long enough to recognize that fire when I see it. It’s the same look my boys Michael-Vincent and Blake get when they’re squaring off over a game of HORSE in our driveway. You don’t accumulate numbers like Stone did without having some serious grit, some real intestinal fortitude.
And let me tell you something else: when Dave Roberts says that scan showed inflammation but no structural damage? That’s what we refs call “verticality.” It’s about maintaining your space, not letting the other team push you around in the paint. In this case, it means Stone isn’t out for the count; he’s just got to take a step back, let his shoulder calm down and then come back stronger.
But here’s where things get interesting. Because while the medical report might say “inflammation,” what that really means is Stone has been pushing himself too hard. Trying to do too much too soon. You see it all the time in sports – a guy comes back from an injury and thinks he can just pick up right where he left off.
I remember this one game I worked over at Culver’s Classic, must’ve been about five years ago now. There was this kid – couldn’t have been more than 16 – who’d torn his ACL playing football the previous fall. First game back in basketball season and he’s out there trying to dunk on everyone like he’s Michael Jordan circa 1988.
Of course, he ends up tweaking that knee again before halftime. Had to be carried off by his teammates. Now I’m not saying Stone is doing anything that extreme; but you get my point. Sometimes the most important play you can make isn’t a grand slam or a buzzer-beater – it’s knowing when to take yourself out of the game.
And let me tell you something else about Gavin Stone: he’s no Fox River Fraud. You know the type I’m talking about. The kind of guy who puts up big numbers during meaningless games in September but disappears come playoff time. Or worse, starts making excuses whenever things don’t go his way.
I’ve seen plenty of those clowns over my two decades on the court. Players who act like they’re too good to dive for a loose ball or take a charge. Guys who think the rules don’t apply to them because they averaged 20 points per game in some rec league somewhere.
But Stone? From what I hear, he’s the kind of player who leaves it all out on the field every single night. The kind of guy you want on your team when the game’s on the line and the pressure’s on. He may have been born with some God-given talent, but he didn’t get to where he is today by coasting on his natural abilities.
No sir, Gavin Stone put in the work. The kind of work that gets done long after the cameras have been turned off and the crowds have gone home. The kind of work you do when no one’s watching because you know that’s what it takes to be great.
That’s why this shoulder inflammation is such a tough break for him and for the Dodgers. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years as an official, it’s that talent only gets you so far. The real separation happens between the ears.
You can have all the natural ability in the world but if you don’t have that burning desire to be the best – if you’re not willing to outwork everyone else in the room – then sooner or later someone’s going to come along and take your spot.
I remember this one time, must’ve been back when I was just starting out. There was this player on a team I was reffing who had all the physical tools you could ask for: height, speed, strength, quickness with his hands and feet. But he never quite put it all together because he thought talent alone would be enough to get him by.
Well wouldn’t you know it, that kid ended up transferring schools after his junior year because he couldn’t crack the starting lineup. Last I heard he was working some dead-end job down in Illinois somewhere, probably still wondering what might’ve been if only he’d applied himself.
That’s the thing about sports – and life for that matter: there are no participation trophies. You don’t get points just for showing up. The world doesn’t care how much potential you had or how many stars were next to your name on some recruiting website.
All it cares about is what you actually produce when it matters most. Whether you can make the big play when everyone’s watching and the pressure’s on.
And that brings me back to Gavin Stone because from where I’m sitting, he seems like just the kind of player who relishes those moments. The type who wants the ball in his hands with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, bases loaded, full count – winner take all.
Sure, this shoulder inflammation is a setback but it’s not the end of the world. Not as long as Stone keeps that fire burning inside him. As long as he remembers what got him here and doesn’t lose sight of why he started playing this game in the first place.
Because at the end of the day, sports aren’t really about stats or scores or championships. They’re about competing – about testing yourself against others and seeing just how far you can go before you break.
They’re about finding out what you’re made of when everything’s on the line and there’s nowhere left to hide from who you really are as a person.
And if Stone truly has that winner’s mentality – if he truly hates losing more than he loves winning – then this is just another obstacle for him to overcome. Another hurdle to clear on his way back to the top of the mountain where he knows he belongs.
Now I’m not here to tell you it’s going to be easy because nothing worth doing ever is. There are no shortcuts in life and there sure as heck aren’t any in professional sports.
Stone’s got a long road ahead of him between now and whenever he finally makes his return to the mound for good. Lots of rehab work, lots of long days spent pushing himself harder than most people could even imagine.
But if there’s one thing I know it’s that you can’t measure heart or determination with an MRI machine. You can’t quantify desire on a stat sheet or find grit in a medical report.
Those are the intangibles – the things that separate the good players from the great ones and ultimately decide who gets to call themselves champions when all is said and done.
So while it’s easy to look at this shoulder inflammation and think the worst, I choose to see it as just another test of Gavin Stone’s willpower. Another chance for him to show us what he’s made of both on and off the field.
Because when you strip away all the money and fame and pressure that comes with playing professional baseball, sports are really about one thing: competition.
And there is no greater feeling in the world than knowing you gave it everything you had out there – win or lose. That you left nothing in the tank because every single person in that building deserved your absolute best effort from start to finish.
That’s what separates the true competitors from all those Fox River Frauds who think they can coast by on raw talent alone without putting in the work required to maximize their potential.
It’s also why I have no doubt Gavin Stone will overcome this latest hurdle just like he has every other one thrown his way throughout his career. Because if there’s one thing I know after all these years of blowing whistles and making split-second decisions on the court, it’s that you can’t fake heart or determination.
Either you have what it takes to be great – to grind out a win when everyone else has already packed it in for the day – or you don’t. And from everything I’ve seen so far, Gavin Stone has it in spades.
So instead of counting him out now because of some inflammation in his shoulder, let’s take this opportunity to appreciate what he brings to the table both as a player and person. Let’s recognize that while physical gifts may open doors, they’re not nearly enough on their own to sustain excellence at the highest levels of competition.
No sir, that takes something extra – something Gavin Stone has in abundance whether he’s on the mound or sitting in the trainer’s room waiting for his body to heal itself once again. And if there’s one thing I’m willing to bet my officiating career on, it’s that this won’t be the last time we see him out there competing at a championship level.
Because true competitors don’t let injuries define them; they use those setbacks as motivation to come back stronger than ever before. They understand that every challenge is an opportunity – not just to prove themselves again but also to show others what real resilience looks like in action.
And when Gavin Stone finally does make his return to the Dodgers’ rotation after these couple of weeks off, I have a feeling he’s going to remind everyone exactly why he’s considered one of baseball’s brightest young stars by putting together another dominant performance on the mound.
He may not be throwing fireballs up at 100 mph right away but you better believe every pitch will have purpose behind it. That each strike thrown and out recorded will mean something more than just a number in some box score somewhere.
They’ll represent his refusal to give up or back down even when faced with adversity most would consider insurmountable. His determination to keep pushing forward no matter how much pain he has to endure along the way.
And at the end of the day, isn’t that what sports are really all about? Isn’t that why we tune in every night hoping our favorite players will find a way to deliver when it matters most?
To see ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things by sheer force of will alone. To witness firsthand what happens when someone digs deep down inside themselves and finds that extra gear hidden beneath layers upon layers of doubt.
That’s the beauty of competition – it doesn’t discriminate based on age or experience level. It doesn’t care how many times you’ve failed in the past because each new day brings with it another chance to prove yourself all over again.
And as someone who’s spent countless hours trying to get the absolute best out of young athletes like my boys Michael-Vincent and Blake, I can tell you firsthand that nothing teaches perseverance quite like sports do. Nothing shows you what you’re truly capable of achieving when every fiber of your being wants to quit but something deep inside refuses to let you.
So rather than feel sorry for Gavin Stone right now or count him out before he’s even had a chance to fully heal up, let’s celebrate his journey instead – both the triumphs and the tribulations that have brought him here today.
Let’s recognize that while injuries may slow down great competitors temporarily, they can never truly stop them from reaching their ultimate destination. That the only way to fail in sports (or life for that matter) is by failing to get back up every single time you get knocked down no matter how many times it takes until you finally reach your goal.
Because if there’s one thing I know after all these years of officiating games across Wisconsin and beyond, it’s this: greatness isn’t defined by our victories but rather by how we respond when faced with defeat.
And Gavin Stone has shown time and again that he possesses the mental toughness required to overcome any obstacle placed in his path – whether that’s a nagging shoulder injury or simply an opponent determined to beat him at his own game.
So let’s not waste any more energy speculating about what might happen if things don’t go according to plan this season because here’s the reality: nothing worth having ever came easy, especially not in professional sports where every single day is a battle for survival against some of the most talented athletes on planet earth.
What matters now isn’t Gavin Stone’s current physical condition but rather his unwavering commitment to doing whatever it takes to return better than ever before – even if that means taking two weeks off from throwing just to ensure he doesn’t suffer any further setbacks along the way.
Because at the end of the day, sports aren’t about what happens when everything goes right; they’re about what you do when nothing seems to be going your way except for that one sliver of hope keeping you moving forward no matter how small or insignificant it may seem in the moment.
And if Gavin Stone has proven anything throughout his young career thus far, it’s that he possesses an unshakable belief in himself – both on and off the field. A confidence that can’t be shaken by temporary injuries or any other roadblocks placed before him along his journey toward greatness.
So instead of counting him out now because of some inflammation in his shoulder let’s take this opportunity to appreciate everything he brings to the table as a competitor and person alike. Let’s remember why we fell in love with sports in the first place by celebrating those who refuse to quit no matter how many times life tries to knock them down along their path toward achieving something truly special.
After all, isn’t that what Gavin Stone represents at his core – an unyielding determination to succeed against all odds? A willingness to put everything on the line every single time he steps out onto that field because winning isn’t just some abstract concept but rather a way of life that defines who you are both as an athlete and individual?
In my book, there’s nothing more inspiring than watching someone dig deep within themselves when their back is against the wall – whether they’re trying to mount a comeback during crunch time or simply attempting to overcome personal adversity through sheer force of will alone.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout all these years of officiating games across Wisconsin and beyond, it’s that those who truly have what it takes rarely need any extra motivation from others because they already possess an internal drive so powerful nothing can stand in their way once they set their mind toward achieving something meaningful no matter how small or significant the outcome may seem to anyone else but themselves.
So rather than worry about what might happen if Gavin Stone’s shoulder doesn’t heal properly this time around, let’s instead focus on appreciating everything he brings to the table both as a competitor and person alike because at his core, isn’t that what separates those destined for greatness from everyone else – an unwavering belief in oneself even when nobody else believes you can succeed?
Because if there’s one thing I know after all these years of calling games and making tough decisions under pressure it’s this: greatness doesn’t come easy but it always finds a way to shine through eventually regardless of how many roadblocks stand before those who possess the mental toughness required to push past them no matter what.
And Gavin Stone has shown time and again that he possesses exactly that kind of resilience – both physically and mentally. That even when things may seem darkest, he somehow manages find another gear hidden deep within himself just waiting for its moment to shine through and carry him across finish line toward ultimate success.
So let’s not waste any more energy speculating about what might happen if things don’t go according to plan this season because here’s the reality: nothing worth having ever came easy, especially not in professional sports where every single day is a battle for survival against some of the most talented athletes on planet earth.
What matters now isn’t Gavin Stone’s current physical condition but rather his unwavering commitment to doing whatever it takes to return better than ever before – even if that means taking two weeks off from throwing just to ensure he doesn’t suffer any further setbacks along the way.
Because at the end of the day, sports aren’t about what happens when everything goes right; they’re about what you do when nothing seems to be going your way except for that one sliver of hope keeping you moving forward no matter how small or insignificant it may seem in the moment.
And if Gavin Stone has proven anything throughout his young career thus far, it’s that he possesses an unshakable belief in himself – both on and off the field. A confidence that can’t be shaken by temporary injuries or any other roadblocks placed before him along his journey toward greatness.
So instead of counting him out now because of some inflammation in his shoulder let’s take this opportunity to appreciate everything he brings to the table as a competitor and person alike. Let’s remember why we fell in love with sports in the first place by celebrating those who refuse to quit no matter how many times life tries to knock them down along their path toward achieving something truly special.
After all, isn’t that what Gavin Stone represents at his core – an unyielding determination to succeed against all odds? A willingness to put everything on the line every single time he steps out onto that field because winning isn’t just some abstract concept but rather a way of life that defines who you are both as an athlete and individual?
In my book, there’s nothing more inspiring than watching someone dig deep within themselves when their back is against the wall – whether they’re trying to mount a comeback during crunch time or simply attempting to overcome personal adversity through sheer force of will alone.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout all these years of officiating games across Wisconsin and beyond, it’s that those who truly have what it takes rarely need any extra motivation from others because they already possess an internal drive so powerful nothing can stand in their way once they set their mind toward achieving something meaningful no matter how small or significant the outcome may seem to anyone else but themselves.
So rather than worry about what might happen if Gavin Stone’s shoulder doesn’t heal properly this time around, let’s instead focus on appreciating everything he brings to the table both as a competitor and person alike because at his core, isn’t that what separates those destined for greatness from everyone else – an unwavering belief in oneself even when nobody else believes you can succeed?
Because if there’s one thing I know after all these years of calling games and making tough decisions under pressure it’s this: greatness doesn’t come easy but it always finds a way to shine through eventually regardless of how many roadblocks stand before those who possess the mental toughness required to push past them no matter what.
And Gavin Stone has shown time and again that he possesses exactly that kind of resilience – both physically and mentally. That even when things may seem darkest, he somehow manages find another gear hidden deep within himself just waiting for its moment to shine through and carry him across finish line toward ultimate success.
So let’s not waste any more energy speculating about what might happen if things don’t go according to plan this season because here’s the reality: nothing worth having ever came easy, especially not in professional
One-Ry Out.