Nick Gordon

Gordon made strides at the plate last season that earned him a steady presence in the lineup in a utility role. Gordon improved his power by slugging .427 and hitting nine home runs with 28 doubles, which helped make him an above average hitter with a 111 wRC+. His versatility to play five positions saw him get 443 plate appearances amid an injury-plagued Twins roster. Gordon has decent speed but had just six stolen bases as he struggled with efficiency (four CS) and Minnesota's reluctance to steal bases. While Gordon has versatility, his glove isn't seen as strong enough for everyday duty in the infield nor is he seen as a plus defender in the outfield. He'll return in a utility role but may not get as much playing time with a healthier roster.

Minnesota tried to re-make the former first-round draft pick into a utility player last season with mixed results. Gordon played six positions in the majors as he's not seen as having the glove for everyday duty at shortstop. He hit just .240 with a .774 OPS as he struck out too often (25.5%) and drew too few walks (5.5%) for a player lacking significant power. He did steal 10 bases, however, which should give him fantasy value even in a reserve role. If he can make more contact (just 72.5%) he could be a fantasy asset. However, he's no lock to win a reserve role this spring.

Gordon was sidelined for much of July and August after testing positive for COVID-19. He was able to train for a few weeks before landing on the injured list again in late September. He likely missed out on several opportunities to get playing time in the majors when the Twins were short on middle infielders. In a repeat season at Rochester in 2019, Gordon showed significant improvement at the plate, but his .298/.342/.459 slash line (102 wRC+) still only translated to just above league-average production. He may have missed his best chance to establish himself in the majors last year and will need to rebuild his career at Triple-A. He'll still get a shot to win a reserve role this spring.

Gordon bounced back at the plate last season but couldn't stay healthy enough to get a shot at the majors. After posting just a 52 wRC+in 2018, Gordon hit .298 with a .808 OPS and 102 wRC+. He played just 70 games, missing time with a lower-leg bruise, a left adductor strain and a stomach ailment. Despite the rebound at the plate, the fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft is no longer seen as the shortstop of the future. Gordon has little power, doesn't draw walks at a good clip and doesn't make contact at an elite level. He has some speed (14 steals last season) which will help his fantasy value. His glove isn't seen as strong enough to be a starter at short, so a move to second base is likely. He'll likely compete for a utility role with the Twins, but with the emergence of Luis Arraez and top prospect Royce Lewis soon on the way, Gordon's path to the majors may be with another organization.

Gordon's status as Minnesota's shortstop of the future took a big hit last season, as he was the worst hitter in the International League (52 wRC+). His season got off to a strong start in his second tour of Double-A, where he hit .333 with a .906 OPS. However, at Triple-A his ISO plummeted and his line-drive rate dipped from 25.2% to 19.9%. Gordon's strikeout rate has always been manageable (20.0% at Triple-A), he just didn't do much damage when he made contact. His defense leaves a lot to be desired at shortstop (the Twins continue to give him time at second base), although big-league shortstop Jorge Polanco has similar defensive warts. Gordon could improve in a return to Triple-A, as he did at Double-A, and his speed will give him added fantasy value (20-for-25 on SB attempts last season). The Twins would like Gordon to force the issue, but he will probably debut at some point this summer even if he is just treading water at Triple-A.

Gordon, the fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft, could make his major-league debut in 2018 after a productive season at Double-A Chattanooga where he hit .270/.341/.408 with a career-high nine home runs. He played some second base at Double-A to accommodate other shortstop prospects, but he’ll probably be given the chance to stick at shortstop in the majors. Gordon added some needed power to his repertoire at the expense of more strikeouts (a career-high 23.2 percent rate), but also began drawing free passes at a decent clip (9.2 percent walk rate). He adds some speed on the bases (13 steals on 20 attempts), but he’s not a burner like his brother Dee. It’s not the profile of an All-Star, but he has a chance to be an average regular at shortstop, which few upper-level prospects can claim. A strong first half at Triple-A could lead to a late-season callup for the 22-year-old, but his tools aren’t loud enough for him to realistically provide much fantasy help this season.

Gordon looks on track to be Minnesota's starting shortstop of the future after hitting .291/.335/.386 for High-A Fort Myers. At just 20 years old in High-A, he more than held his own, hitting 12 percent better than league average (112 wRC+). He then had a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .346 with an .862 OPS. Gordon is still growing into what could be fringe-average power, but while he projects to hit for a bit more pop than his older brother, he falls well short of Dee in the speed department. Gordon was only successful on 19 of 32 stolen-base attempts at High-A (59.4 percent success rate), and lacks plus speed. Against big league batteries, he only projects to steal 10-20 bases in his peak. He needs to be more selective in order to profile as a leadoff hitter (4.7 percent walk rate), but his contact skills (17.5 percent strikeout rate) and above-average hit tool should allow him to be an everyday player. Look for him to debut in late 2018.

The fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft began the season slow by hitting .250/.325/.301 in the first half at Low-A Cedar Rapids, but bounced back by hitting .302/.347/.416 in the second half. A left-handed hitting shortstop, Gordon offers plus speed and the ability to hit to all fields, but he'll need to add more power to be a star player with the bat. He's had good reviews for his defense and could make up for his lack of power with his glove. He was young for his level at just 19 so his power may develop as he matures. He could be an impact player in the majors in just a few years.

The fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft and brother of Dee Gordon, Nick hit .294/.333/.366 with one homer and 11 steals in 57 games with rookie-level Elizabethon before a broken finger prematurely ended his season. A left-handed hitting shortstop, Gordon offers plus-speed and the ability to hit to all fields, but he'll need to add strength as he advances through the minor leagues in order to avoid being overpowered by opposing pitchers at the highest level. At just 19 years old, it will be a while before Gordon reaches the majors, but there's reason to believe that he could be an impact player in the majors.