CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, September 29, 2005 7:00 pm
For Alex Gordon, there is a cure for the summertime blues — a contract he believes will lead to him winding up in a Kansas City Royals uniform. On Thursday, nearly four months after they’d selected Nebraska’s two-time All-America third baseman as the No. 2 pick in baseball’s amateur draft, the Royals announced they had finally signed their highest pick in franchise history.
Although the 21-year-old Gordon said the process tried his patience from time to time, “I got to spend a lot of time with my family, something I haven’t been able to do for a couple years. It was definitely a fun summer. … I was staying positive. I knew it was going to work out. It was something that was worth the wait.”
Later Thursday, Gordon flew to the Royals’ spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz., to begin an evaluation period in instructional league. He could possibly be placed in the Arizona Fall League, which is reserved for a select few prospects from each major-league organization. Royals senior director of scouting Deric Ladnier predicted Gordon will have “a short learning curve, and we can ultimately see him playing in the big leagues in a short time.”
Gordon was signed to a minor-league deal, which is standard for nearly every player who’s drafted.
Financial terms were not released, although the Kansas City Star reported Gordon’s signing bonus was $4 million. The club reportedly had been offering $3.8 million, $400,000 more than catcher Jeff Clement, the No. 3 overall pick, received from Seattle.
Some media outlets had been reporting Gordon was looking for a deal like shortstop Stephen Drew received from Arizona in May. Drew let his negotiations last for nearly a year before he agreed to $5.5 million in guaranteed money, including a $4 million bonus spread over four years, and an immediate spot on the team’s 40-man roster. He was the only player in last year’s draft to receive a major-league deal.
Ladnier said the numbers being thrown around were speculation.
“We were all trying to work for a deal that was reasonable for both (sides),” he said. “It was a process. Both parties knew that ultimately the player wanted to play for the Kansas City Royals. It was a perfect fit — in the end, everybody walks away with a good deal.”
As a junior, Gordon led the Huskers to the 2005 Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles and their third College World Series appearance. He batted .372 with 19 homers and 66 RBIs, and stole 23 bases in 26 attempts.
That kind of production led to Gordon becoming the most decorated baseball player in NU history. He won the Golden Spikes Award from USA Baseball as the nation’s top amateur player, the Dick Howser Award by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, the Brooks Wallace Award from the College Baseball Foundation and was named the American Baseball Coaches Association & Rawlings Player of the Year. He also was an ESPY award finalist for the Best Male College Athlete.
Over his three-year Nebraska career, Gordon hit .353 with 44 home runs and drove in 189 runs. He also drew 139 walks and struck out just 106 times.
Before last season, Baseball America named him second-closest to the major leagues among collegiate players, and the Royals followed by choosing him No. 2 in the draft after Virginia high school star Justin Upton went to Arizona. Gordon was the fifth Husker drafted in the first round, but the first since 1995, when Darin Erstad and Alvie Shepherd were the Nos. 1 and 21 picks, respectively.
“This is a great day for this organization,” Ladnier said. “You always remain optimistic to be able to get the player (signed). I knew going into this thing when we selected him it was going to take some time. …The key for us was we wanted to be able to at least get him out, whether it was in the summer or instructional league.
“He’s going to be able to get some at-bats, work with our instructors and get a feel for what it’s going to be like to be a professional athlete. … He’s a highly-skilled player. Obviously, where he starts next year, time will tell.”
On Thursday, Gordon, surrounded by his immediate family, was itching to get started.
“It’s a fun day to sit here and be able to experience it,” he said. “I’m in great shape and I’m ready.
“I know they’ve been drafting good players. They’ve got a lot of good young players. They want to win. I’m just hoping that I can be a part of that rebuilding process.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.