The Orioles announced that utilityman Nick Gordon has been signed to a minor league contract. Gordon hit the open market after electing to become a minor league free agent after the season, following an outright off the Marlins’ roster in August.
Injuries and some struggles in the upper minors kept Gordon from making his MLB debut until 2021 and his age-25 season, but as recently as the 2022 season, Gordon hit .272/.316/.427 with nine homers over 443 plate appearances and 136 games with the Twins. While not the heights expected of Gordon as the fifth overall pick of the 2014 draft, it seemed like he’d found a nice niche for himself as a multi-positional weapon, as he saw a lot of playing time in left field, center field, and both middle infield spots that season.
In 2023, however, Gordon got off to a slow start and then fractured his shin on a foul ball in May. He played in a few Triple-A games in September but the injury ended his Major League season after 34 games and a .503 OPS over 93 PA.
This ended up also being the end of Gordon’s tenure in Minnesota, as the Twins dealt him to the Marlins last February for lefty Steven Okert. The change of scenery didn’t help Gordon, as he hit .227/.258/.369 over 275 PA and 95 games, playing primarily in left field with some time in center and at second base. With the Marlins wanting to give more playing time to younger players down the stretch, Gordon was designated for assignment and then outrighted in August.
The Orioles might also have some interest in seeing if Gordon can be a late bloomer at age 29, similar to how the O’s struck gold in revitalizing Ryan O’Hearn’s career in 2023. However, it is more likely Baltimore views Gordon as more of a depth signing to add some veteran experience to the minor league ranks, as the Orioles are already deep in left-handed hitting outfielders and middle infielders.
Wow
Did strange Gordon change his name again
That’s his brother, Nick Gordon, they’re talkng about.
@mlbfan. Just messing around.
What has become of the Strange-Gordon Family Baseball Dinnasty?
He finally moved on from the death of Whitney Houston’s daughter?
That’s strange. Oh deear.
Usually MLBTR would have come out with an article by now, but I myself just heard the news so I’d like to say RIP to Juan Jaime who died of a heart attack at only 37 years old. Had a brief MLB career for the braves, but an overall baseball career for over 2 decades! Fly high man, gone way too young, way too soon!
He died on December 27th
good insurance for the inevitable, typical 4 or 5 IL stints by Tyler O’Neill per year.
Haters gonna hate
Lovers gonna love
I don’t even want
None of the above i want to……..
not hating, Joell It’s a good investment to have a back up plan with Tyler O’Neill.
New name, eh? Get banned on another platform…again? Went the Acronym route this time, eh?
Why the K-Pop Band for a name? Wondering minds…
What kind of insurance does a bum like Gordon provide?
You are hating
Good. We need more representation
I thought he was a point guard in the NBA
Crazy to me that Nick Gordon is now classified as a Utilityman.
I remember when he was taken in the first round by the Twins. Comes from a great baseball family. He was supposed to be great.
He’s only 29 so still has some ball left in him.
Another chance. At least his career wasn’t gone in a flash…..
Un huh. “Exact change only please” Say it Nick! Ahahahaha!
Mike Elias love love love him some a’ them LH OF.
Flash! Gordon!
Ted!
Happy to see O’s ownership and Elias finally opening up the checkbook. Best free agent pick up of the off-season.
Downvote for not paying attention.
Poor man’s Zobrist. Hopefully he’s not married to a philandering gospel singer