The Rockies are deciding on the contract of right-hander Tanner Gordon, in line with Luke Zahlmann of the Denver Gazette. Gordon will begin the membership’s recreation towards the Royals this afternoon in what shall be his MLB debut. The Rockies might want to make a akin to make room for Gordon on the lively roster, however a 40-man roster transfer gained’t be crucial due to the open area the membership has after Elehuris Montero was designated for task final week.
Gordon, 26, was a sixth-round choose by the Braves within the 2019 draft who joined the Rockies as a part of the Pierce Johnson commerce final summer season alongside righty Victor Vodnik. Gordon was struggling badly on the Triple-A degree for Atlanta on the time of the commerce, with an 8.28 ERA in 29 1/3 innings of labor, however appeared significantly better throughout six begins on the degree with Colorado. In these 31 1/3 frames of labor, Gordon posted a 4.31 ERA whereas putting out 24.1% of batters confronted and strolling 7.1%.
These stable outcomes supplied motive for optimism that Gordon may contribute within the majors someday in 2024, however the Rockies nonetheless selected to go away the righty off their 40-man roster over the winter. Fortuitously for them, Gordon was not chosen within the Rule 5 Draft again in December and reported again to Triple-A for the 2024 marketing campaign. The righty’s seven begins this yr haven’t been fairly as fruitful as his time within the group final season. In 33 2/3 innings of labor at Triple-A this yr, Gordon has struggled to a 5.35 ERA whereas putting out a noticeably lowered 18.5% of batters confronted. Whereas his 5.5% stroll fee is spectacular, Gordon’s dip in strikeouts and subsequently lessened manufacturing are each trigger for concern.
These potential points gained’t cease the Rockies from giving Gordon a style of the large league degree in a spot begin in the present day, nonetheless. The righty’s first task within the majors shall be a reasonably robust one, as he’ll be matched up towards a Royals membership that has surged into shock competition this yr whereas pitching his first recreation at Coors Subject. Gordon shall be taking the ball rather than right-hander Ryan Feltner, who was scheduled to begin in the present day. It’s not at present clear if Gordon is solely making a spot begin to afford the membership’s common starters further relaxation or if he’s going to be a extra everlasting fixture within the membership’s rotation, although with rumors swirling round Feltner, Cal Quantrill, and Austin Gomber it’s attainable a commerce may open up a extra everlasting spot within the rotation for Gordon within the coming weeks.
