The Minnesota Twins have selected shortstop Nick Gordon with their first-round draft pick, adding a player with big-league bloodlines.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Gordon was taken Thursday with the fifth overall selection. He’s the son of Tom Gordon, who spent 21 years in the majors as a pitcher for eight teams, and the brother of Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon, baseball’s leader in steals.
Gordon played for Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida, batting .494 with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 27 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 99 plate appearances as a senior. Gordon says he wants to pattern his game after New York Yankees stalwart Derek Jeter.
Baseball America magazine ranked Gordon’s arm as the best among all infield prospects this year.
The Twins grabbed a hard throwing pitcher in the second round, righthander Nick Burdi from the University of Louisville. Burdi was a relief pitcher with a 100 mile per hour fastball.
