Twins Complete Draft Day One
Select SS Nick Gordon in Round One and RHP Nick Burdi in Round Two
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 and right-handed pitcher Nick Burdi from the University of Louisville with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Nick Gordon 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. The 18-year-old was named the Gatorade Florida Baseball Player of the Year and was named a Perfect Game All-American.
Nick Gordon was recommended by Twins scout Brett Dowdy.
With their second round selection on day one, the Twins selected right-handed pitcher Nick Burdi out of the University of Louisville with the 46th overall selection. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder was ranked as the 31st overall prospect entering the draft by MLB.com, and 36th overall by Baseball America. The 21-year-old is 7-6 with 32 saves, a 1.87 ERA (91.2 IP, 19 ER), 134 strikeouts and 33 walks in 70 appearances over three seasons with the Cardinals. Burdi was named a Louisville Slugger All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, First-Team All-Conference and a Golden Spikes Award finalist in 2014 after going 3-1 with 16 saves, a 0.54 ERA (33.1 IP, 2 ER), 58 strikeouts, 10 walks and an opponent batting average of .125. The Cardinals are currently in the Super Regionals in the NCAA Championships and are facing Kennesaw State tomorrow. Burdi was originally selected by the Twins in the 24th round of the 2011 draft by the Minnesota Twins.
Nick Burdi was recommended by Twins scout Alan Sandberg.