R.J. Gordon, a pitcher once seen as a success story in the New York Mets' system, is working to rebound after an injury-plagued start to the 2026 season. Gordon, a 13th-round pick in the 2024 draft, emerged as a promising prospect in 2025, climbing to Double-A Binghamton and posting a 3.36 ERA with 147 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings. That performance was a bright spot for the Mets' farm system, which ESPN ranked as the No. 1 in baseball in August 2025.
However, Gordon's 2026 campaign began with a setback. A lat strain early in the year sidelined him, and he did not return to Binghamton until May. Through his first 15 games by mid-July, he had accumulated a 7.96 ERA. Despite these difficulties, Gordon expressed a commitment to overcoming this period. "I think this stuff is needed," the right-hander said last week, viewing his current situation as a test he hopes to pass.