The Future: Colton Gordon
The next big Southpaw
The Future
Last November I reached out to Kenny Van Doren of Astros Future (I highly recommend their podcast) for players who had the potential to help the Astros in 2024.
No one knows more about Astros prospects than Kenny.
Kenny shared three names and he was correct on all three as Spencer Arrighetti spent most of the season in the Astros rotation, Joey Loperfido saw time in Houston before being traded to Toronto and Will Wagner debuted with the Blue Jays in that same trade and raked.
That worked out so well that I thought I’d ask Kenny about potential contributors in 2025.
This is the third in a three-part (or four, including “Dark Horses”) series.
The Prospect - Colton Gordon
Colton Gordon’s college experience was like many college athletes these days.
Gordon spent a year as a redshirt at Florida, followed by a JUCO stint and then two seasons at Central Florida.
Included in that were the pandemic shortened season of 2020 and an elbow injury, and finally Gordon had Tommy John surgery two months before the 2021 draft.
The Astros were undaunted, taking Gordon in the 8th round at No. 238 overall after taking a liking to his fastball.
That fastball is the only above-average category on Gordon’s scouting report, coming in at a 55 grade, topping out at 94 MPH, while sitting 89-92 MPH.
After the TJ, Gordon began pitching again in July of 2022 and lit up the FCL, before making stops with Fayetteville and Asheville.
Of particular note was his K/BB ratio at all four stops: 11/1 in 6 innings with Astros Orange, 11/1 in 7 innings with Astros Blue, 27/3 in 20.1 innings in Fayetteville and 29/3 in 20.1 innings with Asheville.
That adds up to 78/8 over 53.2 innings and he only gave up 35 hits over that time, too, equaling a WHIP of 0.80.
Gordon finished his whirlwind 2022 season with a stint in the Arizona Fall League (AFL), where he posted a 6.38 ERA in 18.1 innings, but was still solid in the K/BB with 19/3 total.
Gordon split 2023 between Corpus and Sugar Land, finishing 7-7 with a 4.14 ERA and striking out 151 in 128.1 innings.
He did however, have his first struggle with command, also walking 58 (4.1 per 9 IP).
2024 saw Gordon exclusively with Sugar Land where he recorded an 8-2 record with a 3.94 ERA, allowing less than a hit an inning, striking out 124 and walking 39 across 123.1 innings.
To find Colton Gordon on the Astros prospect list at MLB.com, you’ll have to scan down the page a bit.
Just outside of the top 10, is where you’ll find the 6’4, 225-pound left-hander from St. Petersburg, Florida.
Ahead of Gordon on that list are a trio of pitching prospects, so I was intrigued by Kenny including Gordon on his list of potential contributors for 2025.
While I’m certainly no scout, I saw Gordon pitch twice last season and he didn’t exactly blow me, or the opposition, away.
On July 26 in Sugar Land, he gave up 8 runs in the second inning, allowing 4 hits and 4 walks (and those 8 runs) in 3.2 innings against Sacramento.
Five days later in Round Rock, he gave up 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in 4.2 innings against the Express in his first loss of the season.
Thankfully, two starts do not make a season and while Gordon struggled in July, he was solid in August and spectacular in September.
Scouting Report
As mentioned, except for his fastball, Gordon’s scouting grades are average, with some dipping a tick below average.
That said, he has consistently given up less than a hit an inning, displayed an ability to control his pitches and his delivery is such that the ball jumps on the hitter, making his pitchers appear quicker than they are.
Gordon throws a sweeper that’s solid against left-handed batters, but he’s still looking for a second pitch that can be used against righties.
It should be noted that his control was excellent at the lower levels, but suffered as he reached AA and AAA.
Some regression is to be expected, and perhaps I’m a bit gun-shy from recent history, but Gordon went from 1.3 BB per 9 IP in A+ to 3.5 BB per 9 IP in AA and AAA.
While Gordon has started 59 of the 69 MiLB games he’s appeared in, there is some thought that he could eventually be a left-handed option out of the bullpen, especially if the aforementioned 2nd pitch against right-handed batters fails to materialize.
MLB.com lists his ETA as 2025.
Conclusion
The Fangraphs roster resource lists five starting pitchers for the Astros, including Luis Garcia, which is optimistic, to say the least.
As I pointed out in the A.J. Blubaugh post, there will be an opportunity in the spring and there is precedence.
With the departure of Justin Verlander, Yusei Kikuchi and Jose Urquidy, along with injuries to Luis Garcia and J.P. France, the Astros could be looking for starting pitching.
Over the last two seasons, untested rookies France (2023) and Spencer Arrighetti (2024) have made major contributions as starters, so there is precedence, though neither France nor Arrighetti began the season in the Astros rotation.
The Astros 2025 schedule is such that a 5th starter will be needed early, but who the candidates remain a question given injuries (Garcia, France), young arms (Blubaugh and Gordon) and unknown potential free-agent signings.
Much like with Blubaugh, it’s not difficult to see Gordon starting the season in Sugar Land before making his way to the big club and contributing to the Astros in 2025.
Thanks for reading!