Injured Gordon happy to soak in All-Star week

MINNEAPOLIS -- When he sustained a right wrist sprain that would sideline him during the All-Star Game, Alex Gordon could've chosen to take a four-day break and skip the trip to Minnesota, as some injured players do. Gordon didn't even think about it.

"It's unfortunate. You never want to miss this game, but when they asked me if I wanted to come or not, but I knew 100 percent I wanted to come and share the experience with 'Salvy' [Salvador Perez] and Greg [Holland]," Gordon said. "We were here last year together, so it's kind of special to be here together again. It's something that I can, I guess, kick back, relax and enjoy."

The thing Gordon is most looking forward to? Being in the same clubhouse as Derek Jeter, who is celebrating his final All-Star Game.

"Just the consummate professional," Gordon said of Jeter. "I've only got one jersey signed by an active player, and that was Derek Jeter. One of those guys you look up to, and he plays the game the right way."

Though Gordon will miss this year's send-off, he did get to play a role in the goodbye for Mariano Rivera last year. Gordon caught the second out of the inning after breaking in for Allen Craig's liner before moving back just in time to make the play.

"I don't know how I'd be able to screw up Jeter's," Gordon said, laughing. "It'd be kind of cool to play in the outfield behind him. The Rivera experience was pretty fun. After it happened, I was like, I almost did it. I almost screwed it up."