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Former Minnesota Twins 1st Round Pick Off to Baltimore

Originally posted on Minnesota Sports Fan
By Ted Schwerzler | Last updated Dec 31, 2024 5:15 PM ET

The Minnesota Twins have made some very good draft selections over the past handful of years. Royce Lewis, Chase Petty, Brooks Lee, and Walker Jenkins are all at promising points in their young careers. There is always going to be misses though, and drafting through lineage doesn’t always work.

Orioles take a chance on former Minnesota Twins utility man

The top of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft had some serious misses. The first overall pick, Brady Aiken, never signed with the Houston Astros. Tyler Kolek never made it past Single-A for Miami.

Carlos Rodon and Kyle Schwarber are the early darlings, but it was Nick Gordon that went to Minnesota at sixth overall. He’s now joining his third organization.

The Orioles have agreed to terms on a 2025 minor league contract with INF/OF Nick Gordon.
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) December 31, 2024

Part of the allure for Gordon was that he grew up around baseball. The son of Tom “Flash” Gordon, and half-brother to Dee Strange-Gordon, there was plenty to like about the bloodlines. He was a speedy high school shortstop that had an enticing hit tool.

Gordon was a consensus top-100 prospect in multiple seasons for Minnesota, but he struggled to have that translate at the big league level. 2022 was his best season as Gordon slashed .272/.316/.427 (111 OPS+) with 28 doubles and nine home runs.

Nick Gordon's first @Marlins homer ties the game in the bottom of the 9th! pic.twitter.com/dgIi8dqSGa
— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2024

He played in just 34 games during the 2023 season and was shipped to Miami before 2024 in exchange for left reliever Steven Okert. Minnesota found Gordon expendable after a bad year, and with Willi Castro in tow. They got next to nothing out of Okert, however.

Last season Gordon played in 95 games for the Marlins. His .227/.258/.369 (68 OPS+) was a rebound from 2023, but still reflected significant struggles. He played all three outfield spots and second base, but is a below-average defender almost everywhere.

Gordon will provide the Orioles with utility depth at the Triple-A level. With previous big league experience, he is someone that Baltimore could call on. The former first round pick is now 29 years old.

This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.

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