The Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly snagging left-handed pitcher Colton Gordon in a trade with the Houston Astros, and they are also getting veteran right-hander Lance McCullers in the deal. This Gordon kid? He is not your average prospect, folks. He is a 27-year-old lefty, a beast at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, who will hit 28 right before Christmas. The Astros drafted him in the eighth round back in 2021 out of UCF, his home state Florida school. He was a top-10 prospect in the Astros system, and get this: he even pitched for Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. How cool is that? But there is a story about this guy that you absolutely have to know.
This Dude Delivered Pizzas While Rehabbing From Tommy John?!
Talk about dedication. The Athletic actually ran a story in 2025 about Gordon, and it is wild. After getting drafted, he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, feeling isolated and bored. What did he do? He walked into a pizza parlor, asked for a job, and spent four months delivering pizzas. Yes, you read that right. A minor leaguer, slinging pies. That tells you everything about his grit and commitment, even when he is sidelined. This is not some pampered superstar, this is a guy who earned it. He also shares a birthday with another new Brewers pitcher, Bryse Wilson, which is a neat little coincidence for the Cream City faithful.Triple-A Stud to Big League Reality Check
So, what about his arm? Gordon has been a workhorse in Triple-A, especially recently. This year alone, he has pitched 14 games, with 13 starts, holding a solid 6-3 record. His 3.69 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in Triple-A are exactly what you want to see from a guy who has been grinding in the minors for a while. In his last Triple-A outing on July 10, he absolutely carved, going six innings without giving up a single run, scattering four hits, and fanning seven batters. He has been a long-tenured Triple-A pitcher, with a 3.38 ERA across 11 starts in 2025 and a 3.94 ERA over 24 starts in 2024, all with Class AAA Sugar Land. The big league experience has been a bit tougher, though. He got 9⅓ innings in the majors this April, and they were rough. We are talking six home runs and three walks allowed, ballooning his ERA to a brutal 11.57. His big-league debut in 2025 saw him post a 5.34 ERA over 20 games and 14 starts. He throws a heavy four-seam fastball and a sweeper, mixes in a sinker and changeup. He gets elite extension and good chase, but he will not blow you away with velocity. The Brewers get him with one more option year after this season and five years of team control, so there is definitely a long-term play here. Right now, Gordon was in the minors, and Milwaukee's Class AAA Nashville squad has been hammered by pitching injuries and call-ups. So, he is going to be a welcome addition wherever he lands. Do not be surprised when he absolutely sees the mound in Milwaukee at some point this year, if not immediately. This kid has the Triple-A numbers and a pizza-delivery work ethic, and he is going to be a fascinating story to watch.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.