Tanner Gordon is settling into a new role in his third season with the Rockies.
A year ago, the right-hander was exclusively used as a starting pitcher getting the nod 15 times while finishing with a 6-8 record and a 6.33 ERA in 75.1 innings. His six victories were tops among all Colorado pitchers in 2025.
But the 2026 campaign has seen Gordon transition into being used more in long-relief situations out of the bullpen.
His most recent such outing came July 19 against the Cincinnati Reds when Rockies
manager Warren Schaeffer called on Gordon to enter the game in the third inning after an ineffective start from Ryan Feltner left the Rockies trailing 8-1.
Gordon responded by hurling 5.2 innings of three-hit ball while allowing just one run as Colorado rallied in the late innings in the finale of a three-game series at Coors Field.
“It was good,” Gordon said in evaluating his performance against the Reds.
“I mean, obviously, the goal is to win the ballgame. So my job, at that time, was just to come in and kind of stop the bleeding, hold them where they were, and let our offense do some work.”
Despite a three-home run, five-RBI game from catcher Hunter Goodman and a solo round-tripper from Willi Castro, Colorado fell 9-6 while giving the Reds a scare before they left the Mile High City.
After the game, Schaeffer acknowledged the long-relief job done by Gordon, his third straight relief outing of four or more innings this season.
“I mean, TG’s great,” the manager said. “It’s great length out of the pen to take the ball in the middle of the third and go all the way through the eighth, especially with the huge layover after the All-Star break.
“He just pounds the zone. TG is fearless. He goes right after you….He was huge, huge today.”
Through the team’s first 101 games this season, Gordon has an 0-2 record and 5.75 ERA in 13 appearances, including eight relief appearances all of which have spanned at least three innings.
Whether he’s used in long relief or a spot start, Gordon said he just “kind of does what [he’s] told.” But he does have a role preference.
“Obviously, I like the routine as a starter,” he said. “Everyone would like their routine as a starter. But anything I can do to try to help our team win is what I’m going to do.”
Gordon, who was activated on June 30 after being on the 15-day injured list for right hip impingement, has had to alter his mindset as a long reliever as opposed to being in a starting role.
“Sometimes when I’m in the game, maybe the guy before me had a rough outing,” he said. “So sometimes the circumstances when I come into the game aren’t that great. But again, my job is to pick my guy (the starting pitcher) up, do my job and kind of stop the bleeding.”
After his solid season as a starter in 2025 when he was considered a rookie in terms of service time, Gordon has applied what he has learned to continue to grow as a Major Leaguer.
“Honestly, I think the mind is way more powerful than I thought it could be,” he said.
“I know it sounds pretty cliché but, obviously, everyone here is physically talented. But I think where you separate yourself is between the ears. I think I have grown a lot in that sense. I think going into a game with confidence, knowing that you belong here (is important). This is my third year here and thinking that ‘Oh, this is cool that I’m here. I’m having fun and I’m here.’
“But I have to know that I have a job to do,” Gordon continued. “So I think just having that confidence and knowing my ability and trusting my teammates. I think that’s been the biggest thing.”
With that confidence, whether he is called on in long relief or as a spot starter, Gordon will be ready to answer the call.
“I enjoy any role I’m in on the team,” he said. “Obviously, I prefer starting but, like I said, just any way I can help the team.
“It can be a little bit more nerve-wracking in the bullpen. The phone rings there, and I never know who’s going to go in. But, throughout the year, you kind of figure it out. You know the vibe of the game.”
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