Gavin Stone logs three perfect innings in third Triple-A rehab outing with Oklahoma City

Gavin Stone’s return path to the Majors picked up another clear checkpoint on Thursday, when the right-hander made his third rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City and produced three perfect frames. Stone retired every batter he faced over the stretch, combining that run of dominance with five strikeouts to keep his outing spotless.

The performance matters because it reflects both feel and command as Stone navigates a recovery process that began after a right shoulder surgery in October. The last time Stone pitched in the Majors was Aug. 31, 2024, and since then the focus has been building back durability and efficiency without rushing the timeline.

In this latest appearance, Stone did not allow a base runner through his first three innings, a detail that suggests he was able to work the strike zone and get early outs at each moment of the inning. Perfect innings in rehab outings also tend to be interpreted as a sign that the pitcher’s mechanics and conditioning are holding up under live competition, not just in workouts.

Stone’s third rehab start comes after two earlier steps of the same assignment, and the rapid quality of Thursday’s work adds weight to the idea that the organization is satisfied with his progress. Even when a pitcher throws well in a limited rehab window, the follow-on decisions typically depend on how the arm responds afterward, including day-after soreness and how the body handles the workload increase inherent in each successive outing.

For the team at the center of the Major League rotation conversation, Stone’s development remains the primary storyline. A right-hander returning from shoulder surgery is rarely measured by one outing alone, but the cumulative picture matters. With three perfect innings and five strikeouts in the third rehab appearance, Stone has again provided a data point that can support more meaningful progression toward the Majors.

Next, attention will turn to what happens after this outing. The immediate questions are whether Stone completes his rehab sequence without setbacks and whether subsequent appearances show the same ability to command pitches early in counts. If the recovery stays steady, the Majors return becomes more plausible, but until the final step is taken, Thursday’s outing should be treated as progress rather than a declaration of timing.