Nick Gordon
DOB: 10-24-95, in Avon Park, FL
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 160
Position: SS
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Shane's 2016 Prospect Rank: 6

 

Gordon has been producing solid results at the plate and great results defensively at short stop through 2015. The Twins rightfully promoted him to Fort Myers for 2016 and Gordon has produced a .756 OPS. Things appear pretty steady at the plate and in the field. I want an August 1 promotion to AA for Gordon to get a taste of AA pitching before the offseason.

Edited June 30, 201610 yr by Shane Wahl

Blows my mind that there was no thread on this guy. What an atrocity of a change to AAP this year. 

Blows my mind that there was no thread on this guy. What an atrocity of a change to AAP this year.

 

Agreed, thank you for posting

.304/.350/.415 (.765).

 

Twelve steals, but he has also been caught eleven times. 18 walks and 63 strikeouts. Will start next season in AA.

It's good that he is continuing to get the opportunity to learn base stealing. Have we seen improvement in this category as the year has progressed?

Nick Gordon

DOB: 10-24-95, in Avon Park, FL

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 160

Position: SS

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Shane's 2016 Prospect Rank: 6

 

Gordon has been producing solid results at the plate and great results defensively at short stop through 2015. The Twins rightfully promoted him to Fort Myers for 2016 and Gordon has produced a .756 OPS. Things appear pretty steady at the plate and in the field. I want an August 1 promotion to AA for Gordon to get a taste of AA pitching before the offseason.

Would love to see him play a bit in AA to end the year. Even if it's for a week or 2. I think it's time to challenge him a bit. Let him get some looks at the advanced pitching in AA/AAA. I don't think he will be overwhelmed. Might struggle a bit but he seems to be a smart player that knows how to adjust.

 

Would love to see him play a bit in AA to end the year. Even if it's for a week or 2. I think it's time to challenge him a bit. Let him get some looks at the advanced pitching in AA/AAA. I don't think he will be overwhelmed. Might struggle a bit but he seems to be a smart player that knows how to adjust.

 

Agreed, he's over-performed expectations in the FSL.

 

Also, not that the Twins would trade him, but a 20-year-old, SS, top prospect with AA experience would on paper look much more exciting and close to the majors than a guy still in A ball.

 

Nick Gordon
DOB: 10-24-95, in Avon Park, FL
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 160
Position: SS
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Shane's 2016 Prospect Rank: 6

 

Gordon has been producing solid results at the plate and great results defensively at short stop through 2015. The Twins rightfully promoted him to Fort Myers for 2016 and Gordon has produced a .756 OPS. Things appear pretty steady at the plate and in the field. I want an August 1 promotion to AA for Gordon to get a taste of AA pitching before the offseason.

 

2016 Summary

 

 

494 A+ plate appearances, .291/.335/.386 (.721), 23 doubles, six triples, three homers, 23 walks, 87 strikeouts, 19 steals, 13 times caught stealing

 

Gordon has been very consistent in his three years in professional baseball. There appears to be some growing power potential, though this is mostly in the form of doubles and triples. His defense is still quite good and hopefully he learns how to steal bases.

 

2017 Outlook

 

I expect Gordon to be in AA all year, which is good for him. He turns 21 in 10 days. It will be best to be patient with him now that he has made it to AA. I expect Engelb Vielma to also be in AA, so they will have to figure out how to get both of them in the lineup, probably with both of them seeing some time at second base. It would be good to see Gordon post an OPS of over .750 with improved plate discipline, and more stolen bases. 

 

Really needs a better steal percentage, badly.

Nick Gordon was #1 on Baseball America's Hot Prospect Sheet this week.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/arizona-fall-league-hot-sheet-oct-14/#XCRg6J8cU0XrZLmD.97

 

 

From July:

 

Jessica Quiroli - Heels on the Field (A Minor League Blog)  - interviewed Gordon and Miracle Hitting Coach Jim Dwyer, saying he is trying to find a balance.

 

http://www.heelsonthefield.net/2016/07/top-twins-prospect-nick-gordon-striking-a-balance-with-fort-myers.html

 

 

I don't think Vielma will be in AA with Gordon. Vielma is on track to make his MLB debut in 2017. With that being the case and his advanced defense, there is no reason to have him splitting time with Gordon. I'm confident he will be in Rochester to start the 2017 season.

 

I don't think Vielma will be in AA with Gordon. Vielma is on track to make his MLB debut in 2017. With that being the case and his advanced defense, there is no reason to have him splitting time with Gordon. I'm confident he will be in Rochester to start the 2017 season.

 

The career .636 OPS is pretty scary to me to just put him in AAA.

 

From July:

 

Jessica Quiroli - Heels on the Field (A Minor League Blog)  - interviewed Gordon and Miracle Hitting Coach Jim Dwyer, saying he is trying to find a balance.

 

http://www.heelsonthefield.net/2016/07/top-twins-prospect-nick-gordon-striking-a-balance-with-fort-myers.html

 

This is good stuff.

The career .636 OPS is pretty scary to me to just put him in AAA.

He played almost the entire season at AA last year, has moved up a level every year and had his career best numbers since the DSL in AA this past season. The only listed Rochester SS is Wilfredo Tovar and Beresford shouldn't be a reason either. There is no one there to prevent a move up, his glove will play there, and you don't want him blocking Gordon. Moving him off SS destroys 2/3 of his value so that's not a good move. He has to move up.

Cautiously optimistic about Gordon. He's got some things going for him, but his biggest weakness by a mile is the total lack of power. I hope Dwyer found some time to work on that too.

Edited October 15, 201610 yr by Willihammer

 

He played almost the entire season at AA last year, has moved up a level every year and had his career best numbers since the DSL in AA this past season. The only listed Rochester SS is Wilfredo Tovar and Beresford shouldn't be a reason either. There is no one there to prevent a move up, his glove will play there, and you don't want him blocking Gordon. Moving him off SS destroys 2/3 of his value so that's not a good move. He has to move up.

 

I like both players and I think neither should be stunted in any way. That said, stunting can be the result of pushing too aggressively. I don't think there is too much of a problem with both Gordon and Vielma spending a game a week at third and second. If Vielma's bat improves early, by all means send him to Rochester.