Gough joined Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation for an interview and talked about his reaction to the news of his trade.
“I was like, ‘Okay, here we go,’” Gough said. “It was unexpected because I felt like I had a pretty good relationship with the Mariners, but that’s the way it goes in the trading world.”
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Gough has played two years of professional baseball since the Mariners drafted him in 2022, with 10 appearances in 2023 and 23 starts in 2024.
In 2023, Gough pitched 30 innings, allowing 19 runs for a 5.70 ERA while striking out 24 batters.
The right-hander improved tremendously in 2024, posting a 4.33 ERA over 95.2 innings and striking out 99 batters. He also posted better WHIP and batting average against opponents, finishing the season with marks of 1.41 and .244, respectively.
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Gough missed the entire 2025 season due to injury, but looks set to return sometime in the 2026 season. Gough also spoke with McKain about working with the Dodgers as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
“I’m excited, I’m excited,” Gough said. “I’ve heard nothing but good things from the organization. It’s going to be fun to pick their brains and see where their mentality is from a young pitching perspective.
“…I’m looking forward to it.”
Ortiz had been in the Dodgers organization since 2017 and moved up to Triple-A in 2025. With the trade, the Dodgers freed up a spot on their 40-man roster, opening up the opportunity to draft players in the Rule 5 draft and sign free agents.
The Dodgers have taken a step for the future by acquiring Gough and hope he can continue to improve during his time with the organization.
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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