Mets’ R.J. Gordon reinvented himself to join promising pitching wave
A former Oregon ace who did not pitch in 2024 is reshaping his mechanics and approach as he enters the Mets' pitching pipeline.
R.J. Gordon is emerging as part of the Mets' pitching pipeline, a right-hander whose path took an unusual detour after he was selected in the 13th round in 2024. He did not throw a single professional pitch that year, following a spring in which he logged a career-high 94 2/3 innings for Oregon. Gordon had missed the entire 2023 college season after undergoing elbow surgery, and he returned in 2024 to lead the Ducks in innings, finishing with a 5.13 ERA.
Behind the scenes, the Mets reshaped his development. He split time between the club's Port St. Lucie, Florida facility and his home in Southern California, where coaches worked to adjust his delivery and routines as part of a controlled rebuilding program.
Coaches described his adjustment as a blend of mechanics, balance, and sequencing aimed at keeping hitters off balance and preserving his arc of development. The Mets view this work as essential to unlocking the upside that accompanied Gordon when he arrived as a draft pick who had already overcome serious elbow injury.
The path mirrors the club's broader approach to a rising class of arms who faced injury setbacks but are being developed with individualized plans rather than the standard minor-league grind. If the changes translate to the mound in game action, Gordon could compete for opportunities at higher levels in the coming seasons.