HOUSTON -- Astros rookie pitcher Colton Gordon was going to be evaluated for a concussion following Monday’s 7-5 loss to the Guardians at Daikin Park after he was struck in the head by a Steven Kwan line drive in the fifth inning, briefly knocking him to the ground. Gordon stayed in the game before being pulled in the sixth.
Gordon wasn’t made available to speak with reporters after giving up five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings to the Guardians, who snapped a 10-game losing streak. Making his 10th Major League start, Gordon’s five runs allowed were a career high and he has given up nine earned runs and 16 hits in 10 1/3 innings in his last two starts.
Gordon was scoreless through four innings before Kwan’s single off his head scored Will Wilson from third base for the game’s first run.
“The ball got glove first and then hit him in the head, so he’s being evaluated for a concussion,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “It was scary. Thank God, he got the glove up in time.”
Gordon fell to the ground and did a pushup before head athletic trainer Jeremiah Randall and Espada came to the mound to check on him. Gordon threw two warmup pitches and stayed in the game, giving up a three-run homer to José Ramírez two batters later.
“He seemed to be fine, enough to finish the inning,” Espada said.
Corona time
No longer considered one of the Astros’ top prospects, outfielder Kenedy Corona was still struck by the loud ovation he received prior to his first Major League plate appearance in the third inning. Perhaps it was because the video board showed a graphic informing fans of his debut.
The 25-year-old Corona, who was the team’s No. 12-ranked prospect last year, had to call time before his first plate appearance, which resulted in a walk against Tanner Bibee. Corona grounded out and struck out in his first two official at-bats, but that did little to diminish his long-awaited debut.
“Incredible moment,” he said. “Tears almost came out just remembering all the sacrifice and the work that I put in to be here, and it was just incredible for me.”
Corona was acquired from the Mets with left-handed pitcher Blake Taylor on Dec. 5, 2019, in exchange for Jake Marisnick, and he had methodically moved through the Minor Leagues the previous three seasons. He was called up when the Astros placed veteran first baseman Christian Walker on the paternity list Monday.
Corona joins outfielders Cam Smith and Jacob Melton, plus pitchers Logan VanWey, AJ Blubaugh, Ryan Gusto and Gordon, as Astros who have made their Major League debuts this year.
“I do have a relationship with all of them,” Espada said. “Either in Spring Training [or] some of these young kids I’ve seen for years now. I’m excited to have an opportunity to manage them in the big leagues and for me, it’s gratifying having the opportunity to see all these new faces and figure out a way to win in the Major Leagues. That's what makes my job this much fun.”
Trammell’s big swing
Outfielder Taylor Trammell, who missed the first three months of the season due a calf strain suffered in Spring Training, snapped an 0-for-12 to begin his season when he cranked a three-run homer in the fifth inning. It was his first home run since May 16, 2023, while with the Mariners at Fenway Park.
“I wanted to put good at-bats together,” said Trammell, who spent time last season with both the Dodgers and Yankees, combining to play in only 10 games in the big leagues -- five for each team -- before Houston purchased his contract from New York in November.
Trammell, who made a key diving catch in Sunday’s win over the Dodgers, grounded out in his other three at-bats. A first-round pick by the Reds in 2016, he had appeared in 126 career Major League games for the Mariners (2021-23), Dodgers (’24) and Yankees (’24) prior to this season.
“When he barrels the ball, the ball jumps off the bat,” Espada said. “The first at-bat, he hit a ground ball to short and hit that ball really hard [104.8 mph]. And then he was able to hit that one [the home run] in the air. He’s got some juice. His at-bats today were more consistent, more quality and he hit the ball hard a few times.”