Colton Gordon

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #19 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: After spending a season with Hillsborough (Fla.) JC and a redshirt year at Florida, Gordon transferred to Central Florida in advance of the 2020 season. He joined the Knights’ rotation and made nine starts before a torn ulnar collateral ligament required Tommy John surgery. The Astros drafted Gordon in the eighth round in 2021 and signed the lefthander for a below-slot bonus of $125,700. He debuted in 2022 with 15 appearances and reached High-A by season’s end. Gordon began the 2023 season with Double-A Corpus Christi and made 20 appearances before earning promotion to Triple-A Sugar Land on Aug. 8. Over his final nine appearances, Gordon struggled with strike-throwing in a way he had not previously.
  
  Scouting Report: Gordon is a deceptive lefthander who lacks power across his arsenal but features a variety of pitch shapes and the ability to command his repertoire. He mixes four pitches in a fastball in the high 80s to low 90s that he can manipulate to sink or ride, though neither shape is deceptive. He mixes a trio of secondaries, led by his low-80s slider with ride and sweep. Gordon throws a mid-70s curveball with heavy sweep and a mid-80s changeup which he commands at an average rate. Prior to 2023, Gordon’s control had been elite. He showed a devolution in strike-throwing throughout the season, which culminated in a messy month-plus at Triple-A, where the unforgiving automated ball-strike system didn’t help. Gordon’s fastball command is well above-average but he struggles to land his secondaries consistently. All of Gordon’s pitches play up due to his long arm action and ability to hide the ball.
  
  The Future: Gordon profiles as a back-end depth starter with the ability to get the most out of his subpar stuff.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #26 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: After transferring to Central Florida before the 2020 season, Gordon earned a spot in the Knights' rotation and went 5-2, 2.77 over nine starts in 2021 before succumbing to a torn ulnar collateral ligament and having Tommy John surgery. The Astros saw enough to select Gordon in the eighth round of the 2021 draft. He returned to the mound in the summer of 2022 and made nine appearances across Low-A and High-A. Following the season, Gordon participated in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: A pitchability lefty who found success in 2022 with his four pitch mix of average offerings, Gordon mixes a low-90s four-seam fastball, a upper-70s sweeping slider, a mid-80s curveball with more depth than his slider and a lower-80s changeup. While all of his pitches drove whiffs at high rates in 2022, none of his pitches stood out individually. Instead, Gordon's ability to locate his arsenal and deliver a variety of shapes from a similar release point amplified the deception of his entire mix.
  
  The Future: Gordon projects as an up-and-down starter with the ability to eat innings when needed.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 40. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Comtrol: 55.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: After transferring to Central Florida before the 2020 season, Gordon earned a spot in the Knights' rotation and went 5-2, 2.77 over nine starts in 2021 before succumbing to a torn ulnar collateral ligament and having Tommy John surgery. The Astros saw enough to select Gordon in the eighth round of the 2021 draft. He returned to the mound in the summer of 2022 and made nine appearances across Low-A and High-A. Following the season, Gordon participated in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: A pitchability lefty who found success in 2022 with his four pitch mix of average offerings, Gordon mixes a low-90s four-seam fastball, a upper-70s sweeping slider, a mid-80s curveball with more depth than his slider and a lower-80s changeup. While all of his pitches drove whiffs at high rates in 2022, none of his pitches stood out individually. Instead, Gordon's ability to locate his arsenal and deliver a variety of shapes from a similar release point amplified the deception of his entire mix.
  
  The Future: Gordon projects as an up-and-down starter with the ability to eat innings when needed.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 40. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Comtrol: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: After transferring to Central Florida before the 2020 season, Gordon earned a spot in the Knights' rotation and went 5-2, 2.77 over nine starts in 2021 before succumbing to a torn ulnar collateral ligament and having Tommy John surgery. The Astros saw enough to select Gordon in the eighth round of the 2021 draft. He returned to the mound in the summer of 2022 and made nine appearances across Low-A and High-A. Following the season, Gordon participated in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: A pitchability lefty who found success in 2022 with his four pitch mix of average offerings, Gordon mixes a low-90s four-seam fastball, a upper-70s sweeping slider, a mid-80s curveball with more depth than his slider and a lower-80s changeup. While all of his pitches drove whiffs at high rates in 2022, none of his pitches stood out individually. Instead, Gordon's ability to locate his arsenal and deliver a variety of shapes from a similar release point amplified the deception of his entire mix.
  
  The Future: Gordon projects as an up-and-down starter with the ability to eat innings when needed.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 40. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Comtrol: 55.