Article: Seth's Preliminary Top 50 Twins Prospects: Part 3 (26-30)

[Seth Stohs]

Early in most shortstop's minor league career, there is always the question of whether or not he will stick at shortstop or eventually have to move. 

 

Look at Jose Miranda. The moment he was drafted as a shortstop, there were thoughts that he would eventually move to either 3B or 2B. 

 

With Gordon, there was always a thought that he could stay at short. He's got good range and a strong arm. However, the question of him moving to 2B has more to do with whether or not Vielma can get to the big leagues as a shortstop. If so, a team can't have two shortstops, so one of them move to second base. 

[Deduno Abides]

While I don't doubt Gleeman's pessimism, he's not really a scout.  BP wrote just a few months ago:

 

"And a regular he shall likely be, as Gordon can really pick it at shortstop. He makes the plays in front of him, and he also has well above-average range. Add in a strong, accurate throwing arm, and you get a guy who turns hits into outs on a routine basis."

 

At the end of June, Quinn Berry wrote for minor league ball:

"Nick's defense at shortstop is where he really solidifies his status as a top prospect. He's not Andrelton Simmons, but he will stick at shortstop in the big leagues, a huge plus for any young player. Gordon, a former pitcher, can throw up to 94 miles per hour across the diamond and couples that arm strength with soft hands, good instincts, and quick feet.

Further, while Gordon does not have elite speed, he stays low and athletic when fielding and gets tremendous reads on the ball. Overall, he is a very smooth fielder, which shows through the numbers. Gordon's .960 fielding percentage is tops in the Midwest League among players with at least 35 games at short.

FV Field Grade: 55/60

FV Arm Grade: 70"

 

And Sickels just reexamined his top 100 and moved Gordon up to 40.

 

It'll be interesting to hear what the evaluations of Gordon say the next few months but I suspect they still see him sticking at short.

Those assessments may be correct. It would be great if they are.

[DocBauer]

I don't care which combination works, Gordon at SS and Polanco at 2B, or Polanco at SS and Gordon at 2B. I just know I really want one of these options to work, and ASAP. This young OF, Sano, and these two guys makes for a he'll of an interesting lineup.

[Mike Sixel]

 

A lot of reports are that Gordon is going to need to move to 2B, like his brother.

 

I've never read that from a national scout.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I don't care which combination works, Gordon at SS and Polanco at 2B, or Polanco at SS and Gordon at 2B. I just know I really want one of these options to work, and ASAP. This young OF, Sano, and these two guys makes for a he'll of an interesting lineup.

 

Agreed!

[Deduno Abides]

While I don't doubt Gleeman's pessimism, he's not really a scout.  BP wrote just a few months ago:

 

"And a regular he shall likely be, as Gordon can really pick it at shortstop. He makes the plays in front of him, and he also has well above-average range. Add in a strong, accurate throwing arm, and you get a guy who turns hits into outs on a routine basis."

 

At the end of June, Quinn Berry wrote for minor league ball:

"Nick's defense at shortstop is where he really solidifies his status as a top prospect. He's not Andrelton Simmons, but he will stick at shortstop in the big leagues, a huge plus for any young player. Gordon, a former pitcher, can throw up to 94 miles per hour across the diamond and couples that arm strength with soft hands, good instincts, and quick feet.

Further, while Gordon does not have elite speed, he stays low and athletic when fielding and gets tremendous reads on the ball. Overall, he is a very smooth fielder, which shows through the numbers. Gordon's .960 fielding percentage is tops in the Midwest League among players with at least 35 games at short.

FV Field Grade: 55/60

FV Arm Grade: 70"

 

And Sickels just reexamined his top 100 and moved Gordon up to 40.

 

It'll be interesting to hear what the evaluations of Gordon say the next few months but I suspect they still see him sticking at short.

Apparently, yesterday Baseball America said about Gordon: "It's hard to find evaluators convinced of his ability to stick at shortstop."