Photo courtesy of Mississippi State Athletics
It was announced on Monday afternoon that Binghamton Rumble Ponies right-hander Cole Gordon was named the Pitcher of the Week, and center fielder Jake Mangum was named the Player of the Week for the Double-A Northeast League for this past week.
Mangum was the Mets’ fourth-round selection in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State University. He began the year back with Brooklyn, after he played there in 2019, but was quickly promoted to Double-A after just nine games.
Mangum has been putting together a solid second season in the organization, hitting .271/.318/.432 with 17 doubles, three triples, five home runs, and nine stolen bases over 58 games with the Rumble Ponies.
Mangum was one of the hotter players in the game over this past week, posting three doubles, a very long home run, a triple, seven RBI, 12 runs scored, and a stellar 1.407 OPS. Prior to his 0-for-3 performance on Sunday afternoon, he was riding an 11-game hitting streak.
Mangum is an absolute gamer, and was always a solid pure hitter throughout his career at Mississippi State. It’s been nice to see him add some more pop to his game this season. If he can keep this up, Mangum may find himself in Syracuse sooner rather than later.
Gordon is another former Mississippi State Bulldog who was selected by the Mets in the 2019 MLB Draft. The right-hander mainly worked as a reliever during his time in college, making just ten starts over three years.
During his first season in the Mets organization, he pitched well, posting a 2.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts over 30 innings in relief.
Gordon was sent right to Double-A Binghamton this season, where he has transitioned into the starting rotation. Of his 19 appearances, ten of them have been starts.
In 67 innings of work, the 25-year old has pitched to a 4.78 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 65 strikeouts on the year. That ERA is ballooned by a start in which he allowed eight runs back on July 24. Since then, Gordon has put together two of his best efforts of the season.
He closed out July with five no-hit innings, and struck out eight in the Ponies 6-0 win over the Yard Goats on the 31st. Gordon continued that success this week, tossing seven innings of one-hit ball, while striking out 10 batters in Friday night’s 8-0 win.
Over his past two starts, he has allowed just one hit, one walk, no runs, and has struck out a total of 18 batters. He certainly seems to be settling into a nice little groove as he adjusts into his role in the rotation.
While the big league club struggled, it was certainly a big week for Mangum, Gordon, and the rest of the Rumble Ponies.
