HOUSTON -- When left-hander Colton Gordon makes his Major League debut in Wednesday’s series finale against the Royals at Daikin Park, he will be the fifth Astros starting pitcher to make his debut in the past two seasons. Gordon, the Astros’ No. 14 prospect, was 4-0 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in eight starts this season at Triple-A Sugar Land. “Strike-thrower,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Aggressive in the zone. He’s tough. I’m excited about it. He’s put himself in this position, and I think he matches up really well against [the Royals’] lineup. I’m looking forward to it.” Gordon, an eighth-round pick from the University of Central Florida in the 2021 MLB Draft, put himself on the map last season by going 8-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) across 123 1/3 innings at Triple-A, striking out 124 batters and allowing a .238 opponents’ average. He started the game the Space Cowboys won to clinch the Triple-A National Championship last year and also pitched in the World Baseball Classic in 2023 for Israel, so he has some big game experience. “Experience is everything,” Gordon said. “Obviously, I pitched in Miami that year. I’m excited to do it here. I haven’t done it here. It’s going to be something new, obviously. At the same time, baseball is baseball. I’m excited to go out there and do it out here.” |
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Gordon joins an Astros rotation that’s a bit short-handed with Spencer Arrighetti having been on the injured list most of the season with a broken thumb and Hayden Wesneski joining him last week with right elbow discomfort. Houston has gone to a six-man rotation during a stretch of 17 consecutive games without a day off. Gordon, who’s from St. Petersburg, Fla., said he’ll have a lot of support in the stands Wednesday. “Friends, family, so many people who have helped me get here,” he said. “It’s probably an endless list at this point in my life, but so many people will be here: Mom, Dad, friends, family. It’s going to be a good day.” Gordon will be the second Astros starter to make his debut this year, joining AJ Blubaugh (No. 9 prospect), who made one start against the Tigers on April 30 and was optioned back to Triple-A. Last year, Arrighetti (April 10) and Jake Bloss (June 21) made their debuts in starts, with Bloss later being dealt to the Blue Jays as part of the Yusei Kikuchi trade (It was revealed Tuesday that Bloss would undergo Tommy John surgery). The other Astros starters to make their debuts in the last two seasons are Blair Henley on April 8, 2024, against the Rangers and J.P. France on May 6, 2023, against the Mariners. |
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Gordon could make at least a couple of starts for the Astros if they go back to a five-man rotation later this month. It’s unclear how long Wesneski will be out, and Arrighetti is still in a cast, so he’s still a few weeks away from returning. Gordon plans to take advantage of each opportunity. “I would say just trying to be my best self every time out there, which is just throwing strikes, using my repertoire the best way I can,” he said. “Get ahead of batters and let my defense work and just trying to win games for Sugar Land and now, here. Winning at the end of the day is all that matters. Put up zeros and give my team a chance to win.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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• In beating Frisco, 20-14, on Tuesday, Double-A Corpus Christi bashed out 18 hits, including four by left fielder Colin Barber, who hit for the cycle, and three hits and eight RBIs from center fielder Zach Cole (No. 21), who had a grand slam and two-run homer. • Astros right-hander Miguel Ullola was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week. He struck out 10 batters in five scoreless innings on Thursday at Salt Lake, allowing one hit and one walk. • Corpus Christi infielder Rowdey Jordan, a trade acquisition from the Mets last month, was named Texas League Player of the Week. Against Midland last week, he went 10-for-23 (.435) with five runs, two homers, six RBIs and three walks in six games. |
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REMEMBERING YOGI…THE ASTROS COACH |
Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra, who would have been 100 years old on Monday, is known for a lot of things, but few remember his short stint in an Astros uniform. Berra spent three seasons as the Astros bench coach and helped them win the National League West title in 1986. Shortly after Hal Lanier was tabbed to manage the Astros in the winter of 1985, owner John McMullen talked to him about Berra becoming bench coach. McMullen, who was from New Jersey and a former minority partner in the Yankees, and Berra were friends. After playing 19 seasons in the big leagues with the Yankees, winning three American League Most Valuable Player Awards and getting elected to 15 consecutive All-Star Games, Berra managed the Yankees twice and Mets once, so he had the kind of experience a first-time manager like Lanier wanted. Hall of Fame second baseman Craig Biggio credits Berra with helping him get drafted by the Astros. While with the Astros, Berra went with coach Matt Galante to Seton Hall to scout a top prospect for the 1987 Draft. Biggio, like Berra, was a catcher. The Astros wound up taking Biggio with their top pick in the Draft, and he was in the big leagues a year later. “I’m an Astro because he had something to do with it,” Biggio said. |
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