Colton Gordon
P | Bats/Throws: L/L | 6' 4" 225LBS | Age: 26
Draft: 2021 | Rd: 8, #238, Houston Astros | Central Florida
MLB Pipeline Rank
ASTROS: No. 12 |
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2024 8 2 3.94 25 24 0 123.1 124 1.22
Career Minors 17 10 3.74 69 59 2 305.1 353 1.20
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2024 25 8-2 3.94 123.1 124 1.22
Career Minors 69 17-10 3.74 305.1 353 1.20
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Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2022 4 Teams Minors 2 1 2.35 15 11 1 53.2 35 15 14 4 8 78 0.80
2022 FCL Astros Blue FCL ROK 0 1 0.00 4 4 0 7.0 3 1 0 0 1 11 0.57
2022 FCL Astros Orange FCL ROK 0 0 4.50 2 1 0 6.0 6 3 3 1 1 11 1.17
2022 2 Teams ROK 0 1 2.08 6 5 0 13.0 9 4 3 1 2 22 0.85
2022 Fayetteville Woodpeckers CAR A 0 0 2.21 5 3 0 20.1 13 5 5 1 3 27 0.79
2022 Asheville Tourists SAL A+ 2 0 2.66 4 3 1 20.1 13 6 6 2 3 29 0.79
2023 2 Teams Minors 7 7 4.14 29 24 1 128.1 114 63 59 17 58 151 1.34
2023 Corpus Christi Hooks TEX AA 4 5 3.95 20 18 1 93.1 75 44 41 9 36 121 1.19
2023 Sugar Land Space Cowboys PCL AAA 3 2 4.63 9 6 0 35.0 39 19 18 8 22 30 1.74
2024 Sugar Land Space Cowboys PCL AAA 8 2 3.94 25 24 0 123.1 112 68 54 13 39 124 1.22
Sugar Land Space Cowboys PCL AAA 11 4 4.09 34 30 0 158.1 151 87 72 21 61 154 1.34
Corpus Christi Hooks TEX AA 4 5 3.95 20 18 1 93.1 75 44 41 9 36 121 1.19
Asheville Tourists SAL A+ 2 0 2.66 4 3 1 20.1 13 6 6 2 3 29 0.79
Fayetteville Woodpeckers CAR A 0 0 2.21 5 3 0 20.1 13 5 5 1 3 27 0.79

Scouting Report

2024

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Gordon totaled just 167 innings in four years of college, which included redshirting at Florida, a season at Hillsborough (Fla.) CC and two at Central Florida, where he lost time to the pandemic and an elbow injury. He had Tommy John surgery two months before the 2021 Draft, but the Astros liked his fastball metrics and command enough to select him in the eighth round. He returned to the mound in July 2022 and posted a 78/8 K/BB ratio in his pro debut, then led the system with 151 strikeouts in 128 1/3 innings last year while advancing to Triple-A.

Gordon's fastball parks at 89-92 mph and tops out at 94, yet it gets swings-and-misses from left-handers and right-handers alike because he has a deceptive delivery with a low release height and a wide and flat approach angle with tremendous carry. His 78-82 mph sweeping slider shows flashes of becoming a solid pitch and neutralizes lefties, though he's still seeking a reliable secondary offering to combat righties. His mid-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup with sink grade as fringy-to-average, and he may try to add a cutter in 2024. 

His crossfire delivery comes with plenty of extension, allowing Gordon's pitches to get on hitters much more quickly than anticipated. He repeats his pitches and mixes them well, though his trickery wasn't as effective in his first taste of Triple-A, where he logged a 4.63 ERA with 22 walks in 35 innings. He has a high ceiling as either a back-of-the-rotation starter, or if he can't solve advanced righty hitters consistently, a reliever who shuts down lefties.


2023

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Gordon pitched just 167 innings in four college seasons, redshirting at Florida in 2018 and spending a season at Hillsborough CC (Fla). before moving to Central Florida, where he missed time with the pandemic in 2020 and an elbow injury a year later. Though he had Tommy John surgery two months before the 2021 Draft, Houston liked his fastball metrics and command enough to sign him below slot for $127,500 in the eighth round. He returned to the mound last July and posted a 2.35 ERA between three levels, ranking first in the Minors (minimum 50 innings) in strikeout-minus-walk rate (35 percent) and second in K/BB ratio (9.8). 

Though Gordon's four-seam fastball sits at 89-92 mph and maxes out at 94, his low release point and wide and flat approach angle create tremendous carry up in the strike zone and hitters can't seem to get on top of it. His best secondary pitch is a 78-82 mph slider with plenty of sweep that produces ugly swings by left-handers, and it could become a solid offering with more consistency. He also showed the ability to miss bats with his mid-70s curveball and sinking low-80s changeup against Class A opponents. 

Gordon has some of the best command in the system and his pitches get on hitters quicker than they anticipate, enabling his stuff to play much better than its radar-gun readings. He repeats his arm slot with ease and mixes his offerings well. He could move quickly now that he's fully healthy and has a high floor as a back-of-rotation starter or multi-inning reliever.


2022

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40 

Gordon worked just 167 innings in four college seasons, redshirting at Florida in 2018 and working in the rotation at Hillsborough (Fla.) CC in 2019 before transferring to Central Florida, where he lost time to the pandemic in 2020 and an elbow injury in 2021. He had Tommy John surgery two months before the 2021 Draft but that didn't deter the Astros, who liked his fastball metrics and command and signed him for a below-slot $127,500 in the eighth round. He returned to the mound this July and logged a 2.35 ERA with a 78/8 K/BB ratio in 53 2/3 innings between three levels. 

While Gordon's four-seam fastball sits at 89-92 mph and tops out at 94, it plays well above its velocity thanks to the deception he creates. He has a low release point with a flat approach angle, and hitters have a hard time getting on top of his heater. He also utilizes a sweeping slider that parks around 80 mph, a mid-70s curveball and a low-80s changeup with sink, all of which are average offerings. 

Gordon lacks overpowering stuff but helps his cause by pounding the strike zone and making few mistakes. He misses bats and induces weak contact. His floor stands out more than his ceiling, but his pro debut suggests that he could fit into the back of a big league rotation in a couple of years. 



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
11/19/2024 Houston Astros selected the contract of LHP Colton Gordon from Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
04/30/2024 Sugar Land Space Cowboys activated LHP Colton Gordon from the 7-day injured list.
03/29/2024 Sugar Land Space Cowboys placed LHP Colton Gordon on the 7-day injured list.
01/19/2024 Houston Astros invited non-roster LHP Colton Gordon to spring training.
08/07/2023 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to Sugar Land Space Cowboys from Corpus Christi Hooks.
08/07/2023 Sugar Land Space Cowboys activated LHP Colton Gordon.
04/03/2023 LHP Colton Gordon, and assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks from Asheville Tourists.
03/04/2023 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to Houston Astros.
03/04/2023 LHP Colton Gordon roster status changed by Houston Astros.
03/04/2023 LHP Colton Gordon roster status changed by Houston Astros.
02/09/2023 Israel activated LHP Colton Gordon.
09/16/2022 Surprise Saguaros activated LHP Colton Gordon.
09/16/2022 Surprise Saguaros activated LHP Colton Gordon.
08/22/2022 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to Asheville Tourists from Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
07/21/2022 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to Fayetteville Woodpeckers from FCL Astros Orange.
07/09/2022 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to FCL Astros Orange from FCL Astros Blue.
06/13/2022 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to FCL Astros Blue from FCL Astros Orange.
06/11/2022 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to FCL Astros Orange from FCL Astros Blue.
06/06/2022 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to FCL Astros Blue.
07/16/2021 Houston Astros signed LHP Colton Gordon.
05/21/2021 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to Central Florida Knights.
05/21/2021 LHP Colton Gordon assigned to Central Florida Knights.