Austin Gomber was the main return for the Colorado Rockies in the infamous Nolan Arenado trade in 2021. Since the trade, Gomber has provided mixed results for Colorado. During his struggles in 2023, he was candid about the pressure he felt from that trade. Heading into 2024, Gomber was a starter who Colorado would rely on heavily. He delivered mixed results again, but showed enough to make him a key figure to watch in the Rockies rotation heading into 2025.
Austin Gomber Will Be Key for Rockies’ Rotation
Trade Rumors
In early October, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reported that the Rockies wanted to trim payroll. Both Gomber and right-hander Cal Quantrill were mentioned as pitchers who would be on the trade market. Since that report, Quantrill has been non-tendered by Colorado while Gomber is still on the roster. As spring training draws closer, the likelihood of Gomber being traded lessens. He is entering his third year of arbitration and will be a free agent in 2026. Perhaps Gomber will have another solid first half and the Rockies can shop him at the trade deadline.
While Gomber could have netted some prospects for the Rockies as they continue their rebuild, he could be an important part of their rotation in 2025. The left-hander is entering his fifth season with Colorado. In his career, Gomber has gone 35-40 with a 4.86 ERA and a 505/203 K/BB ratio. He has struggled to pitch in altitude. In 56 career games at Coors Field, Gomber has gone 15-13 with a 5.04 ERA and a 182/70 K/BB ratio. However, Gomber was one of the most consistent starters for the Rockies in 2024 alongside Quantrill and Kyle Freeland.
Gomber’s 2024 Performance
Per Statcast, Gomber still had his issues last season but improved in several categories.
2023
- -23 Pitching Run-Value: 3rd percentile
- -20 Fastball Run-Value: 1st percentile
- 5.74 xERA: 7th percentile
- 24.2% chase rate: 8th percentile
- 7.1% BB rate: 70th percentile
- 14.4% K rate: 3rd percentile
2024
- -10 Pitching Run-Value: 13th percentile
- -9 Fastball Run-Value: 10th percentile
- 5.07 xERA: 9th percentile
- 25.9% chase rate: 19th percentile
- 5.5% BB rate: 87th percentile
- 16.7% K rate: 7th percentile
Gomber’s value in the Rockies rotation increased significantly in 2024. His 2.1 WAR was a career-high by a significant margin. He lowered his ERA to 4.75 over 165 innings, after posting a 5.53 ERA over 263 2/3 innings in 2022-23. One major reason Gomber saw more success was a significant reduction in walks and an increase in strikeouts. His 116 Ks were a career-high, coinciding with a career-high 165 innings pitched. But Gomber was once again plagued by the home run ball, allowing a career-high 30 home runs, the most by a Rockies starter.
Austin Gomber is FIRED UP after getting his 6th strikeout of the game in the 8th inning. He’s held one of the hottest offensive lineups to just one run.
HAVE A DAY AUSTIN GOMBER pic.twitter.com/FBDQgGvJe6
— Christian Saez
(@DNVRSaez) September 6, 2024
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Lowering his walk rate was instrumental to a better 2024. The Rockies rotation was haunted by the base on balls all season, leading to big innings by opposing lineups. Gomber’s ability to not extend innings with free passes helped him finish second on the Rockies with 12 quality starts, behind only righty Ryan Feltner‘s 13. Unsurprisingly, Gomber’s bad starts routinely coincided with him allowing multiple home runs. If Gomber can even marginally lower his home runs and increase his groundball rate, it could make his life pitching at Coors a lot easier.
Analyzing the Rockies’ 2025 Rotation
For the first time since 2022, the Rockies will have both RHP Antonio Senzatela and RHP Germán Márquez available at the start of spring training. Considering the dearth of pitching depth for Colorado, their health will be crucial to Colorado’s success. Based on their performances in 2024 and veteran status, Freeland and Gomber should be the frontrunners to start on Opening Day. Feltner is a dark horse candidate to draw the start on Opening Day. He has the best strikeout stuff in the starting rotation and had some stellar starts in 2024. However, Feltner is entering just his fourth full season and still has to work on finishing starts effectively. But Gomber is the biggest variable for the Rockies rotation.
Entering his fifth and possibly final season in Colorado, it will be a prove-it season for Gomber. It is his chance to show that he can be a solid starter consistently before he hits free agency for the first time. First and foremost, he will have to figure out how to limit the home run ball. He has given up at least 20 homers in each season since 2021. But at the bare minimum, Gomber needs to repeat his availability from 2024, when he pitched a team-leading 165 innings. With the injury history of Márquez and Senzatela, the Rockies will need innings eaters more than ever. If Gomber can lower the homers and be a solid, consistent starter, he significantly raises the floor of the Rockies rotation.
Photo Credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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