Alex Gordon

At 40 years old, Alex Gordon has this physical status:

Alexander Jonathan Gordon (born February 10, 1984) is an American professional baseball left fielder who is a free agent.

He has played for the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Gordon played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers prior to playing professionally. Gordon earned the Brooks Wallace Award, Dick Howser Trophy, and the Golden Spikes Award in 2005 at Nebraska.

The Royals made Gordon their second overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft.

Gordon has received seven Gold Glove Awards, four Fielding Bible Awards, and the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award in MLB.

Gordon was mainly a third baseman before 2010.

Early life

Gordon was born on February 10, 1984, to a family heavily involved in baseball. Gordon's father played baseball for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and his brother played college baseball at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Gordon's family used to travel from Omaha to Kansas City, Missouri, to watch Royals games as an infant. Gordon had a fruitful high school baseball career at Lincoln Southeast High School, where he was named the Gatorade Nebraska Player of the Year in 2002. He was also named one of the top high school prospects by Baseball America in his senior year, and he also received All-State recognition in football the same year.

Gordon played American Legion Baseball in his youth. In 2015, he received the organization's Graduate of the Year award.

Personal life

Gordon and his partner, Jamie, have two sons and one daughter. They live in Leawood, Kansas.

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College career

Gordon attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, majoring in criminal justice and playing third base for the university's baseball team. He captured the national baseball awards for college athlete of the year in 2005, winning the Dick Howser Trophy, the Brooks Wallace Award, and the American Baseball Coach of the Year Award in his junior year. He was also a finalist for the Best Male College Athlete of the ESPY Award. With 44 home runs and 189 runs batted in (RBIs), he finished in the top ten in eight different offensive statistical categories at Nebraska over the course of his academic career. In addition, Gordon was named the Best 12 Conference Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 and was selected to the First Team All-Big 12 Team in 2004 and 2005.

Professional baseball career

Gordon was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2005 with the second overall pick, making him the best draft pick out of Nebraska since Darin Erstad was selected with the first pick of the 1995 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. In his first full season in minor league baseball with the Double-A Wranglers, he hit 29 home runs and stole 22 bases with an on-base plus slugging over 1.000. Gordon was recognized as one of the best hitting prospects in baseball by mid-season. He was drafted for the 2006 All-Star Futures Game in the Texas League All-Star game. Gordon helped the Wichita Wranglers qualify for the Texas League playoffs after deciding not to play for Team USA in 2006. He had a fruitful season in his first full minor league season and received the Texas League Player of the Year Award and Baseball America's and Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award after the season ended. He was also named the Best Offensive Player of the Year by MLB.com.

Gordon's baseball card gained notoriety shortly after being drafted in 2006. Gordon's rookie card was released prematurely by the Steelheads, because only players on 25-man rosters or who have played in at least one Major League game are eligible. Topps stopped making the card and cut holes in several of the old cards as a result. Examples that have made their way into retail stores have received thousands of dollars on eBay.

Gordon was drafted quickly into the minor leagues, and he made his major league debut in 2007. Gordon went out with the bases loaded against Curt Schilling in his first major league at-bat, but he eventually hit the Boston Red Sox on April 5, 2007. Daisuke Matsuzaka was struck during a violent attack. Josh Towers of the Toronto Blue Jays scored his first major league home run on April 10, 2007.

Despite Gordon's.185 career with three home runs and eight RBI in his first two months as an everyday starter, the Royals remained patient.

Gordon played his first multi-home run game of his career on September 2, partnering Boof Bonser of the Minnesota Twins in the second inning and Julio DePaula in the 3rd inning. Gordon scored his 34th double of the year against the Minnesota Twins on September 12, setting a new Royals rookie record. Gordon did well for the remainder of the season, but he broke his nose in the season's final game. Gordon's late-season revival raised his batting average to.247. He also stole 14 bases and hit 15 home runs.

Gordon went from #7, the number he had as a rookie, to #4, his college number, ahead of the 2008 season. Gordon had a two-run home run off Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander on Opening Day, 2008.

Gordon was put on the 15-day disabled list on August 23 due to a torn muscle in his right quadriceps. He did not return to Kansas City until September 12, although he did reach.311 in the month of September. Gordon had a.260 batting average and 16 home runs, leading the Royals with 66 walks. Nonetheless, he made the most mistakes (16) and had the lowest fielding percentage (.95%) of all American League (AL) third basemen in 2008.

Gordon was struggling at the start of the 2009 season, hitting just 2-for-21 (.095) with one home run and three RBIs in seven games before being hospitalized while sliding. He underwent surgery on April 17 to repair a tear in the right hip's labral cartilage, and he was on the disabled list for a year. Gordon came off the injured list and rejoined the Royals on July 17 against the Tampa Bay Rays after playing a few games in the minors. Gordon played against the Rays for the first time in his career on August 2, becoming the first Royal to do so after Mendy López in 2003. Gordon was sent by the Royals to the Triple-A Omaha Royals on August 18 to open up a roster spot for Kyle Farnsworth. Gordon had a batting average of.198 at his dismissal, and he had made five mistakes in fewer than 29 games. Gordon returned to the Royals in September after Omaha finished up its season. Gordon was hit in 15 of the last 20 games he played in, as well as home runs against the Minnesota Twins in back-to-back games.

Gordon began the 2010 season with Class-A Advanced Wilmington after a broken thumb in Spring Training. On April 17, Gordon was added to the disabled list. In May, he was demoted to the minor leagues, where he played left field. Before his demotion, Gordon had been.194 and many believed that this demotion indicated that Gordon was running out of options with the Royals. "If he can catch a fly ball in this mess, he's going to be fine," Rusty Kuntz, a coach with the Royals, said. Gordon was called from Triple-A on July 23, 2010 to replace David DeJesus in the Royals' outfield; DeJesus had been placed on the injured list with a right thumb sprain; DeJesus had been recalled from Triple-A; In a game against the Baltimore Orioles on July 30, Gordon scored his first walk-off home run in his career. Gordon hit.264 in the month of August but then fell to a.177 batting average in September. Gordon had a.215 and eight home runs in the 2010 season, despite only appearing in 74 games for the Royals.

With 23 RBIs in Spring Training, he led the major leagues in RBIs in 2011. Gordon's 2011 debut during Spring Training carried over to the regular season. He and his teammates would post a 19-game hitting streak during much of the month of April and had more doubles than any Royals player since 2007; his 45 doubles were tied for sixth in the major leagues. Gordon was selected as an American League finalist for the 2011 All-Star Final Vote, but Paul Konerko was elected. Gordon appeared in more than 150 games this season, the most games he had played at the major league level since his rookie year. Gordon set career highs in batting average (.303), runs scored (101), stolen bases (17), and home runs (23). With 20 goals and his first American League Gold Glove Award, he led all major league outfielders in assists, defensively. Gordon's 20 outfield assists set a new Royals franchise record.

Gordon agreed to a one-year, $4.775 million contract with the Royals on February 9, 2012, avoiding arbitration. Gordon filed for $5.45, but the Royals countered with $4.15. He may have earned an additional $25K if he had made 700 plate appearances, putting him at the original midpoint under the royals' arrangement. However, on March 30, he agreed to a four-year, $37.5 million contract with the Royals with a player option for 2016. Gordon made $6 million in 2012, $9 million in 2013 and $12.5 million in 2015, but he refused to use his player option of $12.5 million for 2016. Gordon may not have been a free agent after 2013.

Despite starting the 2012 season off right by hitting just.240 through early June, Gordon hit.323 from that point until the remainder of the season. In a single game against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 17, he also drew five walks. Gordon was averaging.294 on his batting average and led the majors with 51 doubles and a.294 average. Billy Butler for the second-most doubles in team history, behind Hal McRae's 1977 season. Gordon was named as the best field left fielder in MLB in 2012 by a Fielding Bible Award. He also won the Gold Glove Award. Gordon's field percentage was higher than that of any other player who had appeared in at least 125 games as a left fielder.

He started the 2013 season off strongly by hitting.329 in the first two months of the season. Gordon hit 52 times in a season over the season, as well as two grand slams against the Detroit Tigers in April and another against the Cleveland Indians in July. With 90 runs, 27 doubles, six triples, 20 home runs, and a.265 batting average, he finished with the season. Gordon earned his third Gold Glove Award for his left field defense, his second Fielding Bible Award, and his first All-Star pick.

Gordon had 87 runs, 34 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a.266 BA. For the second year in a row, he was selected to the 2014 All-Star Team. When he singled out Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley on August 6, he reached his 1,000th career hit. Wade Boggs tied for the most home runs hit by a Nebraskan in the Major Leagues on August 26, ties him for the most home runs by a Nebraskan in the Major Leagues.

The Royals trained for the 2014 offseason. Gordon had a rough start in the playoffs, batting only.204, with six doubles, four stolen bases, and one home run, with the Baltimore Orioles' home run coming in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the AL Championship Series. With two outs and two outs, Gordon brought a long single to left center in the 9th inning of the 2014 World Series. When Giants center fielder Gregor Blanco misplayed the ball, he was stranded, but the game and the series were over, but catcher Salvador Pérez fouled out to Pablo Sandoval, ending the game and the series.

Gordon was given the Hutch Award for his off-the-field efforts, which included raising over $1 million for a non-profit promoting cancer research and his promotion of youth baseball in Omaha, Nebraska. Gordon was also praised for his on-the-field success, receiving the Gold Glove, Fielding Bible, and Platinum Glove awards for his defensive efforts.

Gordon was injured against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 8, 2015, resulting in an inside-the-park home run as Gordon could not recover. He was diagnosed with a left groin strain and was put on the injured list after being carted off the field and was sent home. Gordon had just hit a seven-hit double header against the Rays the night before (tying the Royals record for most hits in a double header), in which he hit a double and a home run. Gordon was unable to participate in the 2015 All-Star game due to his injury and was recalled by Brett Gardner on the All-Star roster. Gordon had a.280 batting average and had 11 home runs at the time of the injury. Gordon was activated from the DL and went 2-for-3 against the Detroit Tigers on September 2 with an RBI and run scored.

With 18 doubles, 13 home runs, and 48 RBIs, he ended the regular season with a.377 on-base percentage/.432 slugging percentage/.432 slugging percentage/.432 slugging percentage/.432 slugging percentage/.432 slugging percentage/.432 slugging percentage/.432 slugging percentage/.432 slugging percentage/.432

In 2015, the Royals qualified for the postseason. In Game 3 of the 2015 AL Divisional Series, Gordon scored a home run off of Luke Gregerson in the ninth inning. In the American League Champsionship Series, the Royals will face the Toronto Blue Jays in five games and defeat the Astros in five games. In the series against Toronto, Gordon hit.250. Gordon faced Jeurys Familia of the New York Mets in Game 1 of the 2015 World Series for the ninth time in a row. In 14 innings, the Royals will win 5–4, 5–4 to win. Gordon became a World Champion after the Royals won the World Series in five games over the Mets, the first World Series to be won by the Royals since 1985. Gordon went.241 with 2 home runs, 6 RBI, and a.775 OPS during the offseason. On November 3, Gordon and the Royals, as well as all of the Royals, attended the World Series parade and pep rally in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Gordon agreed to a four-year contract with the Royals as a result of a mutual option for the 2020 season on January 6, 2016. Gordon collided with Royals' third baseman Mike Moustakas while chasing a Melky Cabrera pop-up into foul territory down the left field line against the Chicago White Sox on May 22, 2016. Gordon suffered a scaphoid fracture in his right wrist and was placed on the disabled list, where he missed 29 games. With a career-high 148 strikeouts in 445 at-bats, he ended 2016 at.220/.380.380.380.380.380.

Gordon was struck by a pitch from White Sox pitcher Derek Holland on May 4, 2017. This was Gordon's 79th appearance by pitching, smashing Mike Macfarlane's franchise record. Gordon answered "I" don't move" when asked how he was able to be struck by so many pitches. Although Gordon said he did not lean toward the pitch to give himself a better chance of being struck, he admits to doing so during his college years. Gordon set the record for the most home runs in an MLB season against Ryan Tepera on September 19, breaking the previous record for the most home runs in an MLB season. He batted.208/.335 for the season. His.315 slugging percentage in 2017 was the lowest among all qualified major league batters. Gordon's defense still offered some value to the Royals as Gordon Gold Glove award winner Gordon again wins the Gold Glove award.

Gordon was inducted into the Lincoln Southeast High School Athletics Hall of Fame before the 2018 season. Gordon hit a season-high four runs on May 8th and he drove in five runs on September 15. Gordon gained his sixth Gold Glove in 2018 with 13 home runs and 54 RBIs. Gordon also received his fourth Fielding Bible award.

He had his best offensive season since 2015. Gordon played his first four-hit game since May 2018. Gordon scored two home runs in early May, while still receiving 1,500 career hits in the same game, off of Jake Arrieta. Gordon made his first professional pitching appearance on August 26, losing 11-23 innings. Gordon battened to a.266/.396/.396 line with 13 home runs and 76 RBIs. He also won his seventh Gold Glove title.

Gordon was elected free agent on November 2, 2019. He agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Royals for the 2020 season on January 22, 2020. Gordon announced on September 24 that he would retire from baseball at the end of the 2020 season. His last game against the Detroit Tigers was on September 27 and he received one at-bat in which he pitched out to lead off the first inning, his first leadoff appearance since April 2017. In the second game, Gordon was allowed to play in left field until being pulled back to the dugout and replaced by Franchy Cordero. Gordon batted.209 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 50 games for the 2020 Kansas City Royals.

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