First of all get a new landscaper
I would clean out with hose and let dry and wrap with tape.
I had the neighbors goat munch on a tree one time and I used the green tape
used to stake trees. A good strong stake is a very good idea. The tree will put allot
of energy in to healing the wound, the tree also needs allot of energy to produce the
fruit. The tree would heal much faster if you sacrificed the fruit. I have several sapodillas
without gashes and I see ants constantly on the trunk and branches. I would be more concerned
with beetles which the tape will keep out. Sapodillas don't grow much in the winter at my
place and my fruit is developing slow now. If the wound becomes infected you can always replace the
tree. When the weather warms up and the sapodilla becomes more active water heavy not on
the wound directly and increase fertilizer. You could also buy another tree and up pot and if this
tree doesn't heal you would have a replacement that is further along.