Dee Gordon
From BR Bullpen
Devaris Strange-Gordon
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 150 lb.
- School Southeastern University, Seminole Community College
- High School Avon Park High School
- Debut June 6, 2011
- Born April 22, 1988 in Windermere, FL USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Dee Gordon is the son of Tom Gordon. Dee's first major league season was 2011, while his dad's final one was 2009.
Dee Gordon didn't play baseball until his senior year in high school. Undrafted, he played baseball for NAIA Southeastern University in 2007 before transfering to junior college. He was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2008 amateur draft even though he had not played in junior college that year due to failure to quality academically. He was signed by scout Scott Hennessey for $250,000 and debuted as a pro with the Ogden Raptors, hitting .331/.371/.430 with 18 steals in 23 tries and 45 runs in 60 games, showing the speed on the bases that his father had shown on the mound. The young Gordon was fourth in the Pioneer League in average and 10th in OBP. Baseball America rated the shortstop as the #4 prospect in the league behind Wilin Rosario, Cutter Dykstra and Will Smith. Baseball America also named him the #7 Dodgers prospect. Gordon did not win out All-Star honors as those went to Tyler Kuhn at short.
Dee starred in the Midwest League in 2009. With the Great Lakes Loons, he put up a .301/.362/.394 line with 73 stolen bases in 98 tries, 12 triples and 96 runs. He followed with a .357 postseason average with 7 runs produced in six games. He led the MWL in swipes by 22 over Tyler Pastornicky (another son of a major leaguer), times caught stealing and in triples. He was second in hits (162, four behind Rebel Ridling) and runs (four behind Jaime Pedroza). He also led league shortstops in errors (34) and double plays (78). He was second in the minors in steals behind only Anthony Gose and tied for the most times gunned down running. He split MVP honors with Kyle Russell, was named the All-Star shortstop and was named the MWL Prospect of the Year. He was named the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year as well. Baseball America named him the MWL's Best Baserunner, Fastest Baserunner and Most Exciting Player and the Dodgers' Fastest Baserunner, Best Athlete and Best Defensive Infielder. Baseball America rated him the #2 MWL prospect behind Aaron Hicks and right ahead of Josh Vitters and Brett Lawrie. They also named him LA's top prospect going into 2010 and the 36th-best prospect in minor league ball.
Assigned to the Chattanooga Lookouts to open 2010, he was at .286/.333/.370 after 67 games with 44 runs and 27 steals in 38 tries. He was picked to play for the USA in the 2010 Futures Game. He started the game at short, batting second for the USA. In the first, he drew a Simon Castro walk and came around on a hit by Eric Hosmer to put the USA up 2-0. In the second, he lined out against Hector Noesi. He singled off Henderson Alvarez to open the 5th but was erased when Mike Moustakas hit into a twin killing. Grant Green replaced him at short. The US went on to a 9-1 win.
After starting 2011 with the Albuquerque Isotopes, Gordon was recalled by the Dodgers and made his big league debut in June. He became the Dodgers' starting shortstop after Rafael Furcal was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals at the trading deadline on July 31st, but went on the disabled list less than two weeks later with a shoulder contusion and did not come back until September 1st. He made up for lost time by earning National League Rookie of the Month honors in September. He hit .372 during the month and recorded multi-hit performances in 14 of his 26 games and also stole 12 bases. He finished the year hitting .304 in 56 games.
[edit] Notable Achievements
[edit] Sources
- 2010 Dodgers Media Guide
- 2009-2010 Baseball Almanacs
