Article: Twins Have Utmost Confidence In Nick Gordon

[Parker Hageman]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php/3267-Twins-Have-Utmost-Confidence-In-Nick-Gordon

[twinstalker]

I hope to god that the Twins don't really believe in a major league gene.

[Seth Stohs]

Love this analysis... Gordon is so intriguing. I never thought he would have performed this well with the bat.

 

I must admit. I'm already excited to be at the Cedar Rapids home opening series next year!!

[Tibs]

It's crazy to me that he was just in high school, yet he is hitting over .300 in rookie ball. What a talent

[Tibs]

I hope to god that the Twins don't really believe in a major league gene.

 

I've nearly completed my degree in genetics at Iowa State. No there isn't necessarily a specific "major league gene", but players like Nick Gordon would have a different genetic makeup that makes him more likely to be a professional baseball player. I'm sure if they took the time, geneticists could find a "major league gene", or genetic markers that you could name a major league gene.

[Parker Hageman]

I hope to god that the Twins don't really believe in a major league gene.

 

No, my takeaway when speaking to him is that was more a reference of just having family members who have been in professional baseball and has been around the game.

[UCLA_YANKEE_COLA]

There isn't a major league gene, I'm sure. But there has to be something to having a father that is a world class athlete. My dad is a slightly overweight guy with an oversized personality who likes to have a couple of drinks and complain about the local sports teams. I grew up to be almost the exact same guy. So whether that is genes or "monkey see, monkey do" I guess in the end if all things are equal I'd much prefer the guy with a Major League Father (patent pending on the movie title). It's not like they said he has grit or some other meaningless player attribute.

[blindeke]

.... and that's why Drew Butera is such a great hitter.

[twinsfan214]

No, there's not a MLB gene for playing but you gotta think that having a dad who was a major leaguer has prepared him for peripherial junk that comes with the game (travel, press etc.). I think that's going to help him.

 

As for hitting the other way, you can imagine the Twins would never think that is an issue. There is a player on the big team who has made a pretty good career doing that almost exclusively.

[Monkeypaws]

Thanks for sharing Parker - interesting to hear what management thinks.

[twinsfanstreif]

I have to admit, so far I'm extremely pleased that I was completely wrong about this guy. I didn't think he'd hit and I compared him to Tim Beckham. Please forgive me Nick! I hope his success continues!

[AlwaysinModeration]

I've been watching a lot of little league in the past few years, and one thing that I have notices is some of the best players are usually the younger brothers. They have spent years getting carted to big brother's practices, and as such, wind up getting lots of opportunities to get reps hitting, fielding, etc. They wind up being the extra player with bigger kids when there is a shortage. My theory is that all of that extra work/playing above their head forces them to improve faster than usual.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I have to admit, so far I'm extremely pleased that I was completely wrong about this guy. I didn't think he'd hit and I compared him to Tim Beckham. Please forgive me Nick! I hope his success continues!

 

Do the reverse jinx on him... That worked for Buxton with me.

[Thirty-three]

I've been watching a lot of little league in the past few years, and one thing that I have notices is some of the best players are usually the younger brothers. They have spent years getting carted to big brother's practices, and as such, wind up getting lots of opportunities to get reps hitting, fielding, etc. They wind up being the extra player with bigger kids when there is a shortage. My theory is that all of that extra work/playing above their head forces them to improve faster than usual.

 

Interesting take, AM. I'm a younger brother myself, and felt it took me more effort to compete with my brother who was four years older. I also needed to study the game more in order to outsmart him since he was physically more capable at everything.

[DocBauer]

I was a bit unsure of his selection, despite his athletic pedigree, simply because the scouting reports I read him anywhere from 50-65 at all skill levels. Now while those are all above average, I guess I was expecting a prospect taken that high to sport scores more in the 60-70 range.

 

Certainly the early results have looked very encouraging. And the "gene" factor is nothing to sneeze at. When your father was a highly successful ML player, and your older brother is a high ranked prospect who has graduated to a quality ML'er in his own right, there is something to be said of where you come from and your potential. And I have seen many times, in different sports, for whatever reason, where the younger sibling turns out to actually be the better player. Would be awesome if it happened in this case.

 

I don't expect him to ever be a power threat. But I do wonder as he ages a bit, develops and fills out, if he might have some good XB and potential double digit HR capability.

[Dantes929]

Don't discount genetics. Griffey, Bonds, Fielder, Alou brothers, DiMaggio brothers, Perry brothers, Manning family. Don't know if nature trumps nurture but I don't know that it doesn't either.

[70charger]

Don't discount genetics. Griffey, Bonds, Fielder, Alou brothers, DiMaggio brothers, Perry brothers, Manning family. Don't know if nature trumps nurture but I don't know that it doesn't either.

 

How about the Molinas?

[twinsnorth49]

Or the Bell quartet of Gus, Buddy, Dave and Mike.

[by jiminy]

There isn't a major league gene, I'm sure. But there has to be something to having a father that is a world class athlete. My dad is a slightly overweight guy with an oversized personality who likes to have a couple of drinks and complain about the local sports teams. I grew up to be almost the exact same guy. So whether that is genes or "monkey see, monkey do" I guess in the end if all things are equal I'd much prefer the guy with a Major League Father (patent pending on the movie title). It's not like they said he has grit or some other meaningless player attribute.

 

Well there's only a need for so many people with major league bat speed -- but you can't have too many people with personality! Sounds like you've got the far more important "Twins Blog comment gene." Hope to hear more from you!

[IronMonkee]

How have we gotten 20 comments in and nobody has commented on the spray chart looking very similar to a certain ex-catcher current first baseman?

[DJL44]

Why would the Twins have any issues with a player who is taking pitches the other way?

[Parker Hageman]

How have we gotten 20 comments in and nobody has commented on the spray chart looking very similar to a certain ex-catcher current first baseman?

 

It has been mentioned several times on Twitter to me but the difference, in my opinion, is that Mauer is an opposite field hitter based on his swing that allows pitches to travel deep and inside-out pitching on the inner-half. Gordon does not share this swing trait -- at least based on the video seen of him in high school, showcases and the one clip from his professional experience above.

 

Why would the Twins have any issues with a player who is taking pitches the other way?

 

It is not that there is a concern or issue. As stated above, he does not demonstrate the type of swing that would result in a higher percentage of balls in play going the other way, which prompted my curiosity of what people who have watched him at length have seen.