Alex Gordon, Left Field, Retired


Date of Birth: 2/10/1984
Birthplace: Lincoln, Nebraska
College: University of Nebraska

Alex Gordon, retired left fielder, was a star player at the University of Nebraska before being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2005. He played in the minor leagues for just one year (2006) and then was called up to the Royals in 2007.

Gordon batted .247 with 134 hits, 36 doubles, 15 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 2007, his rookie year in the major leagues. The following season, he batted .260 in 134 games.

In 2009, Gordon had a hip injury and surgery and he played in just 49 games with the Royals. The rest of the time, he was on the DL and in the minor leagues. The following season, he had a broken thumb and again spent time on the DL and in the minors.

Gordon had a very good year in 2011. He had career highs in home runs (23), RBIs (87), stolen bases (17), and batting average (.303) in 2011. That year, he also had 185 hits and 45 doubles in 151 games. He won his first of three Gold Gloves as a left fielder. He played in left field in 148 games and he made 312 putouts with just 3 errors and he had a .991 fielding percentage.

In March, 2012, the Royals gave Gordon a four-year, $37.5 million contract extension that includes a fifth year player option. That season, he batted .294 with career highs in hits with 189 and doubles with 51. He won a second Gold Glove for making 319 putouts with just 2 errors in 160 games.

Gordon won his third Gold Glove award in 2013. In 155 games, he made 323 putouts with only 1 error and he had a .997 fielding percentage. His batting statistics were also good with 168 hits, 27 doubles, 20 home runs, 81 RBIs, and a .265 batting average in 156 games.

Gordon finished the 2014 season with 150 hits, 34 doubles, 19 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .266 batting average. In postseason play, he had 11 hits, 6 doubles, 1 home run, 11 RBIs, 4 stolen bases, and a .204 batting average in 54 at-bats in 15 games.

Gordon won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove in 2014. In 156 games as a left fielder, he made 341 putouts and 2 errors and he had a .994 fielding percentage.

Gordon spent part of the 2015 season on the DL with a groin injury. He finished the season with 96 hits, 18 doubles, 48 RBIs, and a .271 batting average in 104 games. As the Royals' left fielder in 101 games, he made 193 putouts and no errors. He batted .241 in postseason play, finishing with 13 hits, including 4 doubles and 2 home runs, and 6 RBIs in 54 at-bats in 16 games.

Gordon signed a new four-year, $72 million contract with the Royals on January 6, 2016. The contract includes a fifth year mutual option.

In 2016, Gordon batted just .220 in 128 games. He had 98 hits, 16 doubles, 17 home runs, and 40 RBIs. Defensively, as the Royals' left fielder in 126 games, he made 222 putouts and 2 errors.

Gordon had another poor season in 2017, batting a career low of .208. He had 99 hits, 20 doubles, 45 RBIs, and 126 strikeouts to 45 walks in 148 games. Defensively, as the Royals' left fielder in 140 games, he made 259 putouts and 2 errors. He won his fifth Gold Glove in 2017.

Gordon had a better season in 2018, finishing with a .245 batting average. He had 124 hits, 24 doubles, 13 home runs, and 54 RBIs in 141 games. Defensively, as the Royals' left fielder in 125 games, he made 249 putouts and 2 errors.

Gordon won his sixth Gold Glove in 2018 and his seventh one in 2019.

Gordon played in 150 games in 2019 and he had 148 hits, 31 doubles, 13 home runs, 76 RBIs, 100 strikeouts to 51 walks, and a .266 batting average. Defensively, as the Royals' left fielder in 146 games, he made 268 putouts and 1 error and he had a .996 fielding percentage.

Gordon became a free agent on November 2, 2019. He re-signed with the Royals on January 22, 2020. He finished the shortened 2020 season with 34 hits, 4 doubles, 4 home runs, 11 RBIs, 37 strikeouts to 18 walks, and a .209 batting average in 50 games. Defensively, he played 49 games in left field. He won his eighth Gold Glove in 2020.

Gordon retired at the end of the 2020 season.

Statistics for Gordon in fourteen seasons (2007-2020) in the major leagues include:

  • 4 seasons with 150 or more hits, with a high of 189 in 2012
  • 6 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 51 in 2012
  • 2 seasons with 20 or more home runs, with a high of 23 in 2011

Career batting statistics for Gordon through 2020 include:

  • 1,753 games played
  • 1,643 hits
  • 357 doubles
  • 190 home runs
  • 113 stolen bases
  • 759 RBIs
  • 1,535 strikeouts to 684 walks
  • .257 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Gordon as a left fielder through 2020 include:

  • 1,361 games played
  • 2,699 putouts
  • 17 errors
  • .994 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Alex Gordon
ESPN - Alex Gordon