Lucas Gordon
Left-Handed Starting Pitcher
2024 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking: 59
Winston-Salem Dash

There isn’t a lot that’s “sexy” about low-velo Lucas Gordon. But then, there wasn’t much sexy about Mark Buerhle, either, right?

After having now damned Gordon with the Buerhle comp, let’s just point out something that should strike you as very sexy in the White Sox system: a starting pitcher who … pitches.

That’s right, while our top prospect (and, to be fair, younger and less experienced) can’t even scratch five innings in his second full professional year, Gordon just takes the ball, over and again. The University of Texas product had the sixth-most innings pitched in the organization (10th, if you include the big league club), with five innings per start (OK, 4.91). Among the Top 6 pitchers in innings, Gordon had the best ERA (2.23) and second-best WHIP (1.16, just .01 behind the ascendant Mason Adams). So Gordon isn’t just a workhorse, he’s a high-quality one.

Yes, Gordon only pitched at as advanced a level as Winston-Salem, but that is age-appropriate for a guy who only turns 23 as pitchers and catchers report next year. The southpaw’s numbers suffered a tick against better hitters in High-A, but not alarmingly in the least. And Gordon does tend to issue free passes (4.9 per nine!) — but he’s also super-stingy in giving up hits (5.6!).

Add it all up, and you’ve got the best pitcher in the system who has so far dodged any notoriety whatsoever. And while such arms can often just disappear (where have you gone, Tommy Sommer) or get chewed up by the meaner bats at the upper levels, respect is due for Gordon putting together as good a full season in the system as any arm out there.

2024 Sox Populi White Sox Minor League All-Star Team
Edgar Quero (C) (Player of the Year)
Caden Connor (1B)
Tim Elko (1B)
Ryan Galanie (1B)
Wilmer Difo (2B)
Brooks Baldwin (SS)
Zach DeLoach (LF)
Mason Adams (RHSP)
Aldrin Batista (RHSP)
Ky Bush (LHSP)
Lucas Gordon (LHSP)
Noah Schultz (LHSP) (Pitcher of the Year)
Drew Thorpe (RHSP)
Eric Adler (RHRP)
Adisyn Coffey (RHRP)

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Lucas Gordon Photo: Tiffany Wintz/Sox Populi