Tom Gorzelanny

Tom Gorzelanny

42-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Tom Gorzelanny in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a minor league contract with the Mets in February of 2017 that includes an invitation to spring training.
Nearing return from DL
PNew York Mets  
Shoulder
August 21, 2017
Gorzelanny (shoulder) is on a rehab assignment with High-A St. Lucie.
ANALYSIS
Gorzelanny made his third rehab appearance (first for St. Lucie) over the weekend, striking out one batter in an otherwise clean ninth inning to pick up the save. He hasn't pitched since March because of a left shoulder injury, so he'll likely need a few more rehab games before joining Triple-A Las Vegas.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Tom Gorzelanny See More
Monday Lineup Card: Extend An Olivera Branch
August 9, 2015
Braves top prospect Hector Olivera (hamstring) could be activated from the DL in about two weeks.
Thursday Lineup Card: We Are Familia!
July 8, 2015
I bet you can’t guess who is making a case as the most dominant closer in the game right now? Yep, Jeurys Familia!
Saturday Lineup Card: Happy Fourth of July
July 3, 2015
Chris Benzine discusses Alejandro De Aza's recent hot streak and why you should consider him in some formats, plus more in Saturday's lineup card.
Brewers Team Preview: More From the Core
February 22, 2015
Kevin O'Brien suggests that what the Brewers get from Jean Segura this season will go a long way towards deciding if they are a contender this year, after an offseason that featured few big changes.
Tigers Team Preview: The Window is Closing
February 14, 2015
Health will be a major obstacle for the Tigers in 2015, with Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez recovering from offseason surgeries.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
Gorzelanny was supposed to be the Tigers' go-to lefty out of the bullpen in 2015, but things fell apart for the reliever in May and June, and he was demoted to Triple-A. There, the team re-made his mechanics and converted him to a sidearm hurler. Early returns on the change were unimpressive, but the team stuck with him and from Sept. 6 onward he posted a 1.23 ERA and an 8:2 K:BB across seven outings. The dropped arm slot transformed Gorzelanny into a groundball pitcher who was much harder to hit, but he needs to keep that slot consistent to be effective. He signed a minor league contract with the Indians and should serve as organizational bullpen depth in 2016.
Injuries limited Gorzelanny to just 23 appearances last season, but he gave up just one home run and two earned runs in those outings. After two effective years for the Brewers, he became a free agent this offseason. Signed by the Tigers as a free agent in January, Gorzelanny will have an opportunity to compete for a high leverage role during spring training. If all goes well, he could prove to be an upgrade over Phil Coke, as Gorzelanny has a career 2.88 ERA over 171.2 innings with a .216 batting average against as a reliever.
The Brewers needed Gorzelanny to make 10 starts in 2013, and he was average at best in that role, posting a 4.62 ERA. However, he was dominant out of the bullpen, recording a 2.70 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 36.2 innings of relief. Gorzelanny is not a power pitcher but has learned how to get big league hitters out. He'll provide the Brewers with a quality left-handed, late-inning option in 2014, but he could miss the beginning of the season, after undergoing shoulder surgery in December to fix an issue that limited him late last year.
At first glance Gorzelanny had an excellent season in long relief for the Nationals, but his drop in ERA was mainly due to good luck and a strand rate north of 80 percent. If anything, a big spike in his walk rate could point to some struggles ahead in 2013, but he is expected to serve as the Brewers' primary left-hander in the bullpen after inking a two-year deal with Milwaukee in December.
Gorzelanny spent the first half of 2011 in the rotation for the Nationals, but was sent to the bullpen in favor of Chien-Ming Wang and Ross Detwiler. It is conceivable that he can battle for a rotation spot in spring training, but it is more likely he will appear out of the bullpen. His FIP against left-handed hitters was 2.61, and he struck out 29 in 26.1 innings. His best pitch is a sweeping slider (80 mph), while he also features a change-up and a fastball that averaged 89.6 mph in 2011. Gorzelanny posted a career best 2.84 BB/9IP, but his first pitch strike percentage (53.7 percent) was its lowest since 2005.
Gorzelanny started 23 games at the back end of the Cubs' rotation last year and performed passably (119:68 K:BB ratio in 136.1 IP, 1.15 G/F). Gorzelanny features a 90 mph fastball, a slider and a changeup, modest stuff, despite his 7.9 K/9IP rate. Assuming he's not dealt before spring training (at press time the Tigers had shown interest), he's got a good chance to slot in as the team's No. 4 starter.
After coming over from the Pirates in late July, Gorzelanny pitched pretty well despite a 5.63 ERA. A bad start in Colorado and a meaningless October start against Arizona obscured what was otherwise a solid stint in Chicago - 40:13 K:BB in 38.1 IP. As a result, he's the frontrunner for the No. 5 starter spot but should have competition in camp from Jeff Samardzija, Sean Marshall and Jay Jackson.
The Pirates scratched Gorzelanny from his first spring training appearance and things went downhill from there. After one of the more promising rookie campaigns in recent Pirates history in 2007, Gorzelanny slumped so badly last year that the team had little choice but to send him back to Triple-A despite a lack of major league pitching. Gorzelanny, who went 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA and 135:68 K:BB ratio as a rookie, struggled to a 6-9 mark, 6.66 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP (up from 1.40). The 26-year-old lefty put up some encouraging numbers back at Triple-A, registering a 2.06 ERA and 33:4 K:BB ratio. Considering the alternatives Pittsburgh has with its pitchers, Gorzelanny will get all the opportunity he needs to regain his rookie season magic. He'll fight for a back-end rotation spot this spring.
Had the Pittsburgh organization shut Gorzelanny down at the beginning of September, when the lefty was showing signs of breaking down, he would have ended the season with a 13-7 record and an earned run average of 3.50. But the Pirates, desperate for their first 15 game-winner since 1999, kept pushing Gorzo out to the mound in the final month and the gutsy pitcher never refused the ball. The results? Try three losses in four decisions, a 5.77 ERA and a BAA of .355 in 34.1 painful innings. Overall, Gorzelanny threw 201.2 innings, going 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.398 WHIP. His K:BB ratio of 135:68 illustrates the success he demonstrated despite the disastrous September. It wouldn't be surprising to see Gorzo go through a sophomore slump or battle injuries (as he has throughout his career) in 2008. Still, he's the closest thing the Pirates have to an untouchable -- a hard-throwing lefty who battles like every game is his last.
Gorzelanny may be the closest thing on the Pittsburgh pitching staff to an untouchable. After being recalled on July 1, Gorzelanny posted a team-best 3.79 ERA among starters and held opposing batters to a .226 batting average. He changes speeds well and sports a fastball that reaches 94 mph. Somewhat injury prone, the 24-year-old lefty has had problems with his elbow in the past and missed a month in 2006 with elbow tendinitis. He averaged more than a strikeout per inning in the minors -- 391 in 383 innings -- and figures to continue that trend in 2007.
The 23-year-old southpaw got a September taste of the big leagues when he squared off against the Astros and veteran star Andy Pettitte in his MLB debut. Not surprisingly, Pettitte out-dueled Gorzelanny, but the young hurler showed enough to draw some loose comparisons to the veteran. Gorzelanny fields his position well, hits up to 93-94 mph with his fastball, and features a change-up as his out pitch. He's thrown just under 300 innings in three minor-league seasons, going 18-13. He'll likely start the season pitching for Triple-A Indianapolis, but could be a mid-season callup with a hot start.
More Fantasy News
Suffers left shoulder injury
PNew York Mets  
Shoulder
March 27, 2017
Gorzelanny has been dealing with a left shoulder injury and was sent for tests Monday, Newsday's Marc Carig reports.
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Signs minor league deal with Mets
PNew York Mets  
February 3, 2017
Gorzelanny signed a minor league deal with the Mets on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.
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Elects free agency
PFree Agent  
July 9, 2016
Gorzelanny declined his outright assignment to Triple-A and will become a free agent.
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Designated for assignment
PCleveland Guardians  
July 4, 2016
Gorzellany was designated for assignment by the Indians on Monday.
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PCleveland Guardians  
March 28, 2016
Gorzelanny agreed to stay with the Indians on Monday after being informed he would not make the Opening Day roster, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.
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