Gordon 'riding the wave' to Classic with Team Israel

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The past few years have been a whirlwind for Colton Gordon. From Tommy John surgery months before the 2021 Draft, to being selected in the 8th round by the Astros, to playing in his first professional atmosphere in ‘22.

While his ride has been as lively as your favorite roller coaster, Gordon has a new behemoth to conquer: the World Baseball Classic.

The 24-year-old is a member of Team Israel's Classic roster, where he will slot into the starting rotation. Between three levels last season, Gordon pitched 53 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.35 ERA, striking out 78 and walking just eight. He made 11 starts, 15 appearances, and posted an .80 WHIP.

• Pederson, Kremer headline Team Israel's Classic roster

Gordon, Houston's 24th ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, saw his first Grapefruit League action Saturday against the Red Sox as a tune-up to joining his WBC team Monday in Jupiter. He gave up one run and struck out one in the eighth inning of Houston's 4-4 tie with Boston.

"It's an honor," Gordon said of being named to the roster and getting to compete on a large stage. "I'm excited for it, I think we have a great group of guys and I'm excited to meet everybody."

Judaism was a big part of Gordon's life growing up. He remembers having a Bar Mitzvah, and a large group of friends from Hebrew School having a good time. Gordon said both his mother and father are Jewish, and that his grandparents came over to the U.S. from Europe.

"Not only am I excited to showcase my talents, it's also to honor them and appreciate them and appreciate the family lineage and heritage," Gordon said. "I'm excited and honored to represent the team."

The southpaw was drafted out of the University of Central Florida and stands 6-foot-4, possessing a fastball, curveball, changeup and slider. While he may not overpower hitters with a blazing fastball, he attacks the opposition by throwing strikes. What also plays is his low release point that can give batters' eye-level fits.

"[Gordon] had a fantastic year last year," said Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy. "I think what was really cool about this situation is that he's from Florida, his family was able to see him pitch here, and it's a really good opportunity to get him some exposure to prepare him to pitch in the WBC.

"I think it’s really cool for him in that he's able to pitch against established, Major League hitters, some really, really good lineups, and it'll be something he'll be able to take with him throughout the entirety of his career and set him up to pitch successfully at the Major League level, which is the hope. The sky's the limit for him."

Gordon said he's felt great rehabbing from Tommy John, and he's taken all that life's given him in stride the past few years.

"It's been pretty fast, but it's been awesome," Gordon said. "You try riding the wave -- that's the way I like to put it. Hard work pays off. You go through rehab, you do what you need to do day in and day out, and you try and just take that onto the field and execute in everything you do."

Israel will be playing in Pool D in Miami, joining Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Team Israel made a splash at the 2017 WBC, and hopes to do the same in a powerhouse grouping.

Of what he hopes to get out of the experience, Gordon said: "Winning, first of all. We're all there to win. I think that's very obvious. I want to win. But [aside from winning], experience being around the guys, what it's like day-in-and-day-out, try to take something to learn from every day and build off of that. I'm there to throw strikes, get outs, and win the whole thing."

Astros manager Dusty Baker said getting to participate in the WBC is an honor and one-of-a-kind experience.

"It's invaluable -- the feeling, experience, and the adrenaline rush that you're going to learn to have to control, not only there, but hopefully in the future, if we get in the playoffs or World Series," Baker said. "The more positive experiences you can have at whatever level, that's going to help you in the next level."

Gordon, while only 24, seems wise beyond his years. He knows success individually will come as a result of team success.

"At the end of the day, [my own success] starts with winning as a team and doing what I can to help our team win," Gordon said. "Progressing through a system or getting to the Big Leagues kind of takes care of itself as long as you take care of the job of winning and helping the team succeed."