MADISON, AL – Rocket City Trash Pandas right-hander Austin Gordon has been named the Southern League Pitcher of the Month for August, Minor League Baseball announced Thursday. Gordon becomes the fifth Trash Pandas pitcher to earn a league Pitcher of the Month honor, joining Chase Silseth (April 2022), Coleman Crow (June 2022), Brett Kerry (August 2023) and Caden Dana (August 2024).
Gordon went 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four August starts, allowing just 10 hits and five walks over 25.0 innings while striking out 33. The 23-year-old led the Southern League during the month in wins (4), ERA (1.44), strikeouts (33), WHIP (0.60), opponent average (.119), hits per nine innings (3.6), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.60) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.88). He matched his career high with 10 strikeouts against Birmingham on August 4 before closing the month with seven no-hit innings and eight strikeouts on August 26 at Birmingham, retiring all 21 batters he faced as Gordon, Lucas Mahlstedt and Camden Minacci combined for the third no-hitter in Trash Pandas history.
The Clemson University product has established himself among the Southern League’s top starters this season. Gordon currently ranks first in starts (25), second in innings pitched (120.1), second in strikeouts (125), tied for second in wins (8), third in ERA (4.41), third in opponent average (.235) and third in WHIP (1.21) among qualified Southern League pitchers. Gordon, selected by the Angels in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Clemson, has also recorded the fourth-most strikeouts by a Trash Pandas pitcher in a single season in franchise history.
Columbus Clingstones shortstop Jordan Groshans was named the Southern League Player of the Month.
The Trash Pandas continue their final homestand of the regular season Thursday night against the Montgomery Biscuits at Toyota Field, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Thursday’s promotions include the Sprocket Bike Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 1,500 fans, Hit for the Cycle Night with a chance for one fan to win a Harley motorcycle, a pregame motorcycle parade, Throwback Thursday with $3 domestic drafts, live music from Alabama Heathens and a special Business Mixer in the Outfield.
**ABOUT THE ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS
**Owned and operated by BallCorps, LLC, the Rocket City Trash Pandas are the proud Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the Southern League. The Trash Pandas play at state-of-the-art TOYOTA Field in Madison, Alabama. The organization's mission is to unite our communities by creating positive and lasting memories one experience at a time.