Houston Astros pitcher Colton Gordon found not only a new job but also perspective during his long rehabilitation stint in Florida. Players work diligently for the opportunity to see the major leagues. Through hours of practice and conditioning, the eyes on the prize remained focused on the bigger picture.
However, when injury strikes, circumstances force the athlete into the abyss of the unknown. The voyage from punched ticket to uncertain future weighs on the soul. On top of that, the financial strain of mid-round prospects hangs overhead.
Unlike first-rounders who can rest on a pillow created by big signing bonuses, middle talent struggle just to make extra money. However, not only did Gordon succeed in that aspect, but he gained a new outlook on his way to a spot in the Houston rotation.
Houston Astros Pitcher Colton Gordon Gains Insight On His Way to the Majors
The life of an athlete looks like an idyllic treat from the outside. Yet, the work and stress upon the body and mind of a baseball player need a deeper understanding. After waiting until the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft to hear his name, the young hurler needed time.
A month after he got drafted, Colton Gordon was bored. In Florida rehabbing Tommy John surgery, he refused to “sit in a hotel room all day and just waste away time.”
So, one afternoon, he walked into Clematis Pizza and asked for a job – https://t.co/1wsr5NCcQ4
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome)
As a senior at the University of Central Florida, Gordon underwent Tommy John surgery. Knowing this, Houston drafted him anyway and immediately sent him to West Palm Beach to rehab the arm. Once there, the left-hander would finish rehab and physical therapy by around noon every day. As Chandler Rome, the Astros beat writer for The Athletic, outlined, Gordon was not satisfied with ending his day at noon.
So, one day, he walked into Clematis Pizza and sought a job delivering pizzas as a side hustle. With a working Ford F-150 and low on cash, Gordon made the most of his free time and his entire situation.
“I’m not about to sit in a hotel room all day and just waste away time,” Gordon told Rome.
To his credit, Gordon took the initiative to get active outside of baseball. However, you don’t really think of a major leaguer working a regular job. More importantly, after years of a relatively cushy existence at UCF, he realized that the same gifts that he possessed could disappear in a heartbeat. Additionally, driving around the city, making money, and enjoying free slices of pizza does not look like that bad of a time.
Colton Gordon with a solid start for his MLB career.
4.1 IP
7 H
3 ER
2 BB
3 SO pic.twitter.com/UOqttF9mJN— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13)
Gordon’s rehab process went smoothly in Houston’s system. In three minor league seasons, Gordon posted a 31-10 record and earned a big league promotion last week. In his debut, Gordon tossed 4.1 innings and allowed three runs with three strikeouts and one walk.
While not the expected result, the start provided a firm first step on the ground for a pitcher that delivered pepperoni pizza just a couple of years ago. And with the Astros pitching depth taking some hits, Gordon might just pitch himself into an important role with a legitimate postseason contender.