Hmmmmmmmm.....
I just got this in the ol e-mail inbox:
http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a...t=.jsp&c_id=kc
Gordon awaits Royals' call
Top draft pick may soon be entering mix at third base
For everything Alex Gordon has experienced since the Royals took him with the No. 2 overall pick in last June's draft, it's hard to believe he's been playing in his first regular season for a little over a month.
"It feels like I haven't played a game in five years," Gordon said from big league camp in his first Spring Training as a member of the Royals organization. "It felt good to come out here and put on a uniform. I'm always used to playing baseball. I took a lot of time off. It was kind of hard for me, but I think I got what was best out of it. I'm ready to move on and start playing."
The Royals certainly are looking forward to that as well. After prolonged negotiations, the club was finally able to ink the star Nebraska third baseman to a $4 million signing bonus. Before the ink had dried, the expecations for a quick climb to Kansas City rose exponentially.
"If there's one person to deal with those sorts of pressures, just because of his character, Alex is that guy," said Royals scouting director Deric Ladnier. "The organization, we thought he had all the ability in the world, he had the skills and the makeup. He's the whole package. It's just a matter of him going out and playing and doing the things he's capable of doing."
What he's capable of doing is hitting for average and power while playing a good third base, and doing it in a big league uniform sooner rather than later. He hit .372 with 19 homer and 66 RBIs in his final season with Nebraska, earning him College Player of the Year honors. He's played in a number of international events, so high levels of competition don't exactly faze him.
The Royals, trying to find at-bats for him somewhere after he signed, threw him into the elite Arizona Fall League after just a handful of plate appearances in instructional league play. He got in only 50 at-bats, but more than held his own with some of the top prospects in baseball, allowing the Royals to speed the process somewhat by sending him to Double-A Wichita for him to officially begin his Royals career. Over his first 32 games in Witchita (through May 9), Gordon is hitting .313 with 17 RBIs, 40 hits and 7 homers for the Wranglers.
By the time he reaches the Majors, he'll bring with him a great deal of knowledge dropped on him from a pair of third basemen with 17 All-Star appearances and a Hall of Fame induction under their collective belt. It's obvious both former Royals great George Brett and manager Buddy Bell will have a lasting impact on Gordon's future.
"They were both All-Stars, great players back in the day, so once they start teaching you something you take it to heart and listen to every word that they say," Gordon said.
All signs point that when Gordon is ready -- and it could be as soon as this month -- he'll get the call (and eventually get penciled into the lineup every day). But will it be at third, Brett's old stomping grounds? Mark Teahen, the incumbent starter in his second season with the Royals, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha earlier this week. Tony Graffanino has seen time at third over the last three games.
As of right now, there are no plans to move either Gordon or Teahen away from third base.
"I'm strictly at third right now," Gordon said. "I'm doing what I need to do over there. Mark's working hard, too. We're both great players and I think we're going to push each other to be better. I think that's good competition for the Royals and I think it will make us a better team."
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.