MESA, Ariz. — After watching Jharel Cotton shine in his major league debut in September, A’s manager Bob Melvin said the young right-hander reminded him of former All-Star reliever Tom “Flash” Gordon.
It was none other than Gordon himself who Cotton received some long-distance tutoring from over the winter.
Gordon and Cotton both are represented by Beverly Hills Sports Council, and Cotton’s agent, Nate Heisler, put the two in touch.
Coming off his impressive cameo with the A’s in September, Cotton seems to have all but locked up a spot in Oakland’s rotation. But his goal this spring is to hone his 12-to-6 curve ball.