Twins select Nick Gordon with the fifth pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Twins announced tonight that they have selected shortstop Nick Gordon from Olympia High School in Orlando, Fla. with the fifth overall selection in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

The 18-year-old was rated as the fifth best prospect in the draft by MLB.com, as well as sixth best prospect and as having the best infield arm in the 2014 draft by Baseball America. A native of Windermere, Fla., Gordon is the son of three-time All-Star right-handed pitcher Tom "Flash" Gordon and brother of current Dodgers infielder Dee Gordon. The 6-foot-2, 170 pound left-handed hitting shortstop hit .494 with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 27 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 99 plate appearances as a senior, and .505 with 15 doubles, six triples and 12 stolen bases as a junior. In 2013, Gordon was named the Gatorade Florida Baseball Player of the Year and was named a Perfect Game All-American.

This marks the 11th time the Twins have picked in the top five, the last time coming in 2013, selecting Kohl Stewart fourth overall out of St. Pius X High School (Houston, Texas). It marks the first time the Twins have selected a high school infielder in the first round since selecting Travis Harrison out of Tustin (Calif.) High School with the 55th overall pick in the supplemental first round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. Since the 2001 draft, 11 of the Twins first round selections have reached the major leagues and six are on the current 25-man roster, including Kyle Gibson (22nd overall in 2009), Aaron Hicks (14th overall in 2008), Chris Parmelee (20th overall in 2006), Trevor Plouffe (20th overall in 2004), Glen Perkins (22nd overall in 2004) and Joe Mauer (1st overall in 2001).

Nick Gordon was recommended by Twins scout Brett Dowdy.