Minnesota Twins: Nick Gordon Could Be Next Big Shortstop
The Minnesota Twins have had sufficient play at shortstop over the years, but not great. Nick Gordon, their No. 1 prospect, could be the guy to change
Shortstop is a position on the rise all around Major League Baseball with the emergence of Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts. The Minnesota Twins have not been known for their All Star caliber shortstops in recent years. Nick Gordon, currently in Double A, could be that guy as early as next season.
Gordon, currently playing for the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double A Southern League, has been off to a great start to 2017. In 19 games, he is hitting .338 with eleven runs batted in and 33 total bases. He is only 21 years old and his skill set is showing brightly.
He is the top prospect in the Twins farm system and ranked 45th in the MLB Top 100. While some feel his quickness in question, his arm and baseball IQ seem to make him the potential shortstop of the future in Minnesota.
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It also helps that baseball runs in his family, as he is the son of former pitcher Tom Gordon and the half-brother of Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon. Both have made their mark at the MLB level. Nick could be the next All Star of the lineage.
He could take the shortstop position to the next level for the Twins.
The Twins’ shortstop situation has been solid the last few years, but nothing spectacular. Eduardo Escobar has held down the fort efficiently, even showing flashes of power and solid fielding. For the Twins, he has been a solid contributor but he is not the shortstop of the future.
Jorge Polanco has played shortstop, as well, but his low average and lack of power at the plate are not separating him from Escobar as the go-to guy. He has shown potential in his short stints in the bigs, but has had little sticking power.
With the shortstop situation the way it has been, Gordon could be the guy to make it a feared spot on the diamond in Minnesota. His estimated time for arrival is said to be 2018, so that is still a year off. With the way he is playing with the Lookouts, he could be up in Rochester sooner rather than later.
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While Escobar and Polanco have been sufficient at the shortstop position, there is a sense the future is in the minors. That future is Nick Gordon, and the future could be coming soon to Target Field. If he can play at the level his family is known for, he could be the player the Twins have been looking for between second and third base.