A Look Back at Nick Gordon’s Time With Minnesota

[Ted Schwerzler]

In a small trade this weekend, the Twins moved on from Nick Gordon, just shy of a decade after making him the fifth overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. Let's take a moment to reflect on Gordon's Twins tenure.

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

There was plenty of uncertainty regarding Nick Gordon’s roster spot for Rocco Baldelli’s 2024 Minnesota Twins, and Derek Falvey dealt with that before spring training kicked off. Out of options and redundant after the emergence of Willi Castro a season ago, Gordon's roster utility and trade value were each limited, but the front office found a good match in trade. Steven Okert adds to what could be baseball’s best bullpen, and Gordon heads home to Florida.

Drafted out of high school, Gordon’s pedigree was heavily built around bloodlines. Father Tom Gordon and half-brother Dee Strange-Gordon had substantial major-league careers. Although the youngest is not a pitcher like pops (though he did have a cameo) and never possessed the same speed as his elder brother, there was plenty to like as a prep star out of Olympia High School.

Starting in the Appalachian League as an 18-year-old, Gordon put up a .294 batting average during his first 57 professional games. There wasn’t ever much hope that power would become part of his game. The idea was that his instincts could keep him at shortstop, and the solid debut landed him as a consensus top-100 prospect heading into the 2015 season.

In the next two years, Gordon spent the entirety of the season at a single level. As with most high-school players, remaining available and healthy through the rigors of 100-plus games in a season became an immediate challenge. He answered the call by playing in 120 with Cedar Rapids and following that up with 116 games played for Fort Myers. He also went to the Arizona Fall League following the 2016 season, and his .862 OPS across 21 games was solid.

At 21 years old, Gordon reached Double-A Chattanooga in 2017. His nine home runs were the first flash of power he had shown during his career, and while the average dipped with some added strikeout totals, he still posted a robust .341 OBP. In 2018, the Twins had Gordon repeat Double A to start the year, and he responded with a .906 OPS that earned a promotion to Triple A after just 42 games. The following 99 games at Triple-A Rochester yielded an ugly .544 OPS, but he was 4.5 years below the league's average age.

Establishing some solid footing in 2019, Gordon again repeated a level, this time going back to Rochester. Despite playing in only 70 games due to injury, he put up an .801 OPS and carved out a .298 batting average. It looked as though the arm strength might limit him at shortstop, and the power wouldn’t jump off the page, but he had started to round out into a player who could possess a safe floor at the highest level.

The entire world dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and things started adding up for Gordon. Not only was the minor-league season canceled, but Gordon tested positive for Covid-19 in July as summer camp opened. He didn’t clear the necessary protocols until August, and then dealt with chronic gastritis. His body changed drastically as he lost weight, and full health evaded him for months.

Battling through the setbacks physically and dealing with the emotions mentally, Gordon returned in 2021 with a vengeance. He debuted in MLB on May 6, 2021, and played in 73 games for the Twins that year. He worked at six different positions and carved out opportunities as a utility player.

After a lackluster debut season, Gordon shined in 2022. Minnesota needed help all over the field, and Gordon had long ago ditched his shortstop-centric profile. He played center field as Byron Buxton’s replacement and eventually emulated his dad on the mound in garbage time. Playing everything but catcher, first base, and right field, Gordon also contributed a 111 OPS+. He batted .272, and his nine home runs were a welcome surprise for Minnesota.

Off to a slow start last season, Gordon suffered a fractured tibia after fouling a Dylan Covey pitch off of his leg. He wound up playing in just 34 games, and watched as Willi Castro slid into the utility role he once held. Working his way back to health throughout the season, Gordon made it back to action with the St. Paul Saints just before the Twins went on their playoff run. Ultimately, he was left off the postseason roster, but his determination to make himself available was impressive.

Gordon spent a decade in the organization and went from a young kid to a father and an adult. While he only played 243 games in a Twins uniform, the infectious smile and upbeat personality were something fans could always count on, during two seasons that were otherwise full of gloom and glower. A move back home to Florida should present further opportunity, and he reunites with former teammate Luis Arráez in the process.

The next chapter in Gordon’s baseball story begins in 2024, and Twins Territory can cheer him on from afar. The Marlins also come to Target Field this season and will be in the visiting dugout September 24-26.

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Do you have any favorite specific memories of Gordon? What's your take on the trade this weekend? Join the conversation in the comment section.

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[Dman]

Nice write up!  It has been a struggle all the way up for Gordon, but when Healthy he has been a good player.  Not sure if there is another level there for him to be a starter\all star type player, but I still think Miami got a great player with plenty of upside in this deal.  I think he works out well in Miami.  I like Nick Gordon, but he just didn't fit this years roster well IMO. Wishing him health and if he has that I believe success will follow.

[Nashvilletwin]

Nick was the team MVP in the second half of 2022 when we desperately tried to stay in contention.  He proved he could play more than adequately at the MLB level.

The Twins did him a solid by moving him to the Marlins.  Maybe he’ll get more playing time and a better opportunity to keep showing what he can do.  Hey, it worked out great for Steer and CES. Good luck Nick - please say hello to my favorite ex- Twin who’s ABs I never missed. 

But let’s be frank - he was only moved because he hit left handed and had no options left.  Given Gordon’s ability to play CF, if it had been Larnach who was out of options, Trevor would have been the one on the move.  

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I wish Nick Gordon the very best for a successful season and career.  He is a talented guy who has been through a lot and deserves a chance to succeed.  That being said, as others have indicated, he was a poor fit for the roster, didn't have any options left, and had been supplanted by Castro for his role, so it makes me happy that we were able to get a very serviceable reliever for him in trade.  I think it's another win-win with the Marlins - might be an excellent time to take advantage of the good karma and see what else they can cook up!

[Ted Schwerzler]

1 hour ago, Nashvilletwin said:

But let’s be frank - he was only moved because he hit left handed and had no options left.  Given Gordon’s ability to play CF, if it had been Larnach who was out of options, Trevor would have been the one on the move.  

Spot on. Knowing that this was the reality though, impressive they got something so usable in return for a guy that simply could have been a DFA casualty.

[Doctor Wu]

I liked Gordon a lot too. A fun player to watch. So much "could have been," especially for such a high draft choice. But as everyone has said, his fit this year for the Twins wasn't a good one, and his playing time would not have been much, even if he had made the roster out of spring training. Hopefully, he stays healthy and gets a chance for some substantial playing time in Miami. I would love to see him thrive in his home state. 

[Riverbrian]

2022 happened. Nick Gordon was a good major league baseball player that year. 

2023 also happened and he clearly struggled (at a doesn't deserve to be in the majors level)... but let's be clear that wasn't 162 games. Injury took away any chance to fix it. 

I'd also like to suggest that the presence of Castro doesn't mean there is no room for Gordon. There is always room for a decent player who can play multiple positions on any team. Saying we got one of those guys is just plain short sighted. 

To me the issue with Gordon is the combination of burning up his options before putting a major league uniform and not being the type of player who performs clearly and obviously at a level higher than other players who have actual options. When you burn up your options... the egg timer goes off and starts ringing. he no longer has the time to find himself in the majors. You can't send him down to the minors so he has to better RIGHT NOW. 

The trade to Miami was probably a good thing for Nick because it buys him a little more time and I hope it goes well for him. Of course if it goes well for him... it will allow us to second guess the deal in hindsight... which of course we will do. 

When it is all said and done... I understand why the trade was made. My positive thoughts of Nick Gordon will be full credit for his performance in 2022 which was above average.

My negative thoughts will be how I attach him to a group of what I consider a bad draft and development stretch of 1st round picks that contributed either nothing or just a little bit to our team. A group that set our franchise back and became. That group contains Wimmers, Michael, Stewart, Jay, Larnach (Yes I'm including Larnach because he could be the next out of options Nick Gordon next year), Cavaco and Sabato.

Our first rounds from 2010 to 2020 can't be looked at favorably and Gordon was right in the middle of it.