Austin Gomber Bio
Austin Zachary Gomber is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies. Gomber was selected by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft and played college baseball at Florida Atlantic University. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and bats and throws left-handed.
Early Life and Background
Austin Zachary Gomber was born on November 23, 1993, in Winter Garden, Florida. He grew up in Central Florida and attended West Orange High School in his hometown, where he developed his skills as a left-handed pitcher. After graduating, Gomber made himself available for the Major League Baseball draft but went unselected. Rather than accepting an undrafted free agent path, he opted to continue his baseball development in college.
Gomber enrolled at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, and joined the Florida Atlantic Owls baseball program. Over three seasons with the Owls, he made 41 starts and posted a 3.27 earned run average (ERA) across 244⅔ innings pitched, establishing himself as a reliable starter. In the summer of 2013, he expanded his experience by playing collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League.
Path to Baseball
Gomber’s draft stock rose steadily during his college career, and the St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft. He signed with the organization for a $374,100 bonus and was assigned to the State College Spikes of the Low-A New York–Penn League. In his first professional season, Gomber went 2–2 with a 2.30 ERA and 36 strikeouts across 11 starts, signaling a smooth transition to professional baseball.
The 2015 season marked Gomber’s first true breakout as a prospect. Pitching for the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League, he was named a Midwest League All-Star and finished the year with a 15–3 record and a 2.67 ERA. He led the league in wins, strikeouts with 140, and batting average against at .198, and at one point won 13 consecutive decisions. The Cardinals recognized his development by naming him their Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August 2015 and, along with Alex Reyes, their Co-Minor League Pitchers of the Year. He was also invited to major league spring training as a non-roster player in 2016.
Austin Gomber Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Gomber climbed steadily through the Cardinals’ minor league system in 2016, beginning the year with the Palm Beach Cardinals before a midseason promotion to the Springfield Cardinals. He combined for a 7–8 record and a 2.69 ERA across 21 starts, then impressed in the Arizona Fall League with the Glendale Desert Dogs by going 5–1 with a 2.14 ERA in seven starts. The following season at Springfield, he overcame a slow first half to finish 10–7 with a 3.34 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 140 strikeouts in 143 innings over 26 starts. The Cardinals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Gomber began 2018 with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds and tied the franchise’s single-game strikeout record with 16 in a start against the Iowa Cubs. He was promoted to St. Louis in April but was optioned back without appearing before being recalled again in late May. On June 2, 2018, Gomber made his MLB debut with three scoreless relief innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in a 3–2 walk-off win. His first major league start came on July 24, when he threw six no-hit innings against the Cincinnati Reds before allowing a single to Joey Votto. He finished his rookie year 6–2 with a 4.44 ERA across 29 games, including 11 starts. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in 10 games with four starts, going 1–1 with a 1.86 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29 innings.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2018–2020)
Gomber’s Cardinals tenure established him as a serviceable left-handed option out of the bullpen and in spot starts. His major league debut against the Pirates in 2018 and his near no-hit bid against the Reds showcased the poise that had marked his minor league ascent. Although he never locked down a full-time rotation role in St. Louis, his work in 2020 during the shortened campaign — a sub-2.00 ERA across 29 innings — was a strong closing chapter with the organization.
Colorado Rockies Era (2021–2025)
On February 1, 2021, the Cardinals traded Gomber, along with prospects Elehuris Montero, Mateo Gil, Tony Locey, and Jake Sommers, to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for star third baseman Nolan Arenado. In his first season in Colorado, Gomber made 23 starts and went 9–9 with a 4.53 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 115⅓ innings before a stress fracture in his lower back ended his year. He became a fixture in the Rockies’ rotation from there, posting a 9–9 record with a 5.50 ERA in 2023 and a 5–12 record with a 4.75 ERA in 2024, when he led the National League in home runs allowed across 30 starts and 165 innings.
The 2025 season proved difficult. Gomber began the year on the injured list with shoulder soreness and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 19, 2025, before being activated on June 15. In 12 starts for Colorado, he went 0–7 with a 7.49 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 57⅔ innings, and the Rockies released him on August 22, 2025. Shortly after, on August 26, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, where he went 2–0 with a 0.47 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 19 innings in four appearances. He elected free agency on November 6, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gomber is a four-pitch left-hander who throws a fastball that can reach 90 miles per hour, along with a changeup, curveball, and slider. Pre-draft scouting reports highlighted his changeup as his best pitch, giving him a strong weapon against right-handed hitters. His craft on the mound, command of the strike zone, and ability to generate swings and misses with his secondary stuff have been the foundation of his professional success.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Gomber’s signature moments are his 16-strikeout gem for the Memphis Redbirds, his near no-hit debut start against the Cincinnati Reds, and his 13-consecutive-decisions winning streak in 2015 with the Peoria Chiefs. He was also a central piece in one of the winter’s biggest trades when the Cardinals sent him to Colorado in the Arenado deal in 2021.
Austin Gomber Career Wins
Across his major league career with the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies, Austin Gomber has recorded double-digit win seasons and has been a steady contributor in both the bullpen and the starting rotation. His most productive stretch came in 2021, when he went 9–9 for the Rockies in 23 starts despite a back injury cutting his season short.
Major League Highlights
In the majors, Gomber’s most notable individual win seasons include his 2018 rookie year, when he went 6–2 for the Cardinals, and his 2021 and 2023 campaigns with Colorado, when he posted 9–9 records in each season. His first major league victory came during his debut season in 2018, and his most recent major league win came during the 2025 season with the Colorado Rockies.
Other Wins and Performances
In the minors, Gomber was a 15-game winner in 2015 with the Peoria Chiefs and a five-game winner in the Arizona Fall League later that year. He also threw a 16-strikeout game for the Memphis Redbirds in 2018, tying the franchise record held by Lance Lynn.
Austin Gomber Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Austin Gomber grew up in Winter Garden, Florida, and developed his baseball skills locally at West Orange High School. His background in Central Florida baseball helped shape his left-handed pitching style, though specific details about his parents or extended family in the sport are not publicly documented.
Personal Life
Gomber married his wife, Rachel, on December 28, 2019. The couple welcomed their first son, Beckham, in June 2019, their second son, Charlie, in August 2021, and their daughter, Adalyn, in September 2024. The family has been based in Florida during the off-seasons.
2025 Season Performance
Austin Gomber’s 2025 season was defined by injury and transition. He began the year on the injured list with shoulder soreness, was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 19, 2025, and was activated by the Rockies on June 15. Across 12 starts for Colorado, he went 0–7 with a 7.49 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 57⅔ innings before being released on August 22.
After his release, Gomber signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on August 26, 2025, and was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. In four appearances, including three starts, he went 2–0 with a 0.47 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 19 innings, providing a strong late-season rebound. He elected free agency on November 6, 2025, leaving his future destination open as he enters the next phase of his career.