Alex Gordon’s first "exposure" to major league baseball made him the most valuable rookie player in baseball history, at least to one segment of the baseball biz.
Gordon signed with Kansas City for a $4 million signing bonus, the highest given to any 2005 draft pick, although the Red Sox gave reliever Craig Hansen $4 million in a major league contract. Shortly thereafter, Topps issued an Alex Gordon card.
Tiny problem: Only players who are on a team's 25-man roster or who've played at least one major league game, are eligible to be displayed on cards. Gordon cards popped up on eBay and sold for as much as $7,500.
Even though Gordon held out until September, which caused him to miss his first season, the Royals' No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft has the tools and traits to prove a spot in Kansas City's lineup will be anything but a fluke.
A third baseman from the University of Nebraska, Gordon grew up idolizing another Royals' third baseman, George Brett, who like Gordon was a lefty batter. Any resemblance between Brett's Royals and the current crop of suspects, though, is pure coincidence.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore, who replaced Allard Baird, went on the record as saying that every minor leaguer should play in each league before getting a crack at the majors. Baird had planned on jumping Gordon from Double-A Wichita to Kansas City.
According to one American League scout, Gordon "… reminds me of Chipper Jones. He does everything on the field with ease. Plus, there's something about his makeup … the way he goes about his business.
"Some college guys need a kick in the butt. Alex doesn't need motivation. He has a desire that separates elite guys from the very good players."
Gordon also has arguably the fastest bat in the organization. He hits for average and has power to all fields. Plus he has excellent base running instincts.
During Spring Training, Kansas City had him working on fielding groundballs on the balls of his feet with a wider base.
Through his first 97 games with Wichita, Gordon has made a tolerable nine errors. His fielding is overshadowed by his bat, though.
During this same period, Gordon was batting .315 with 29 doubles, 19 homers and 65 RBI. His .974 OPS ranked second in the Texas League while his .558 slugging percentage was fourth.
Initially, Gordon was expected to play his first season at Class-A High Desert, but after batting .260 with nine RBI in the Arizona Fall League, it was decided to send him to Wichita.
The man who stands between Gordon and Kansas City is Mark Teahan (MLN FAB50 Baseball 2004 - No. 17) who stumbled out of the gate this season and was optioned to Omaha after hitting below the Mendoza Line (.195) through 23 games.
Since his return on June 3, Teahan's raised his average to .275 with 12 homers and 45 RBI. Unless Gordon breaks a leg, Teahan is destined to wind up at first base, or perhaps end up as trade bait.
- Mike SCANDURA
