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Minnesota Twins Top 10 Prospects For 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Apr 30, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A Minnesota Twins fan dons her promotional bomber hat before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A Minnesota Twins fan dons her promotional bomber hat before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 5, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; West shortstop Nick Gordon of the Minnesota Twins during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; West shortstop Nick Gordon of the Minnesota Twins during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Nick Gordon, SS

Birthdate: 10/24/95 (21 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A
Stats in 2016: .291/.335/.386, 3 HR, 19 SB

Gordon comes from an extended family that has baseball lineage with father Tom Gordon being a former big league pitcher and brother Dee Gordon already entrenched as a solid player for the Miami Marlins.

He was selected #5 overall by the Twins in 2014, and many thought from day 1 that the Twins selected him partially due to a system weakness at shortstop, citing players that were more highly regarded than Gordon available at #5.

That’s put a lot of pressure on his glove in the eyes of a lot of people, so it’s not surprising that there are some in that camp that have negative view on his glove. However, the questions I had raised about his glove from a number of guys who weren’t in that camp was more than you’d imagine from a guy who had plus grades on the glove coming into the season.

Gordon has a big arm at short, but many questioned his actions and hands at short, with indications that he has the range and arm to play the position, but he had mental lapses and flubbed what should have been routing plays too often.

Offensively, Gordon has a very high ceiling, with a plus run tool that he can pair with an excellent swing that generates gap hits frequently. He likely won’t play up for much power, similar to his brother’s profile. He does use his speed well on the bases, though as he tallied 23 doubles and 3 triples on the season.

Gordon has work to do on his consistency at short and his pitch recognition, and he did get solid marks on the latter during his stint in the Arizona Fall League. Gordon will likely work his way to AA in 2017, and that should be a big test for where he could be going forward.

Next: Newcomer To Watch

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