Alex Gordon Wins Spink Award as Topps/Minor League Player of Year

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ? Former University of Nebraska All-American and current Kansas City Royals minor leaguer Alex Gordon was honored this week, as he was won the 2006 J.G. Taylor Spink Award as the Topps/Minor League Player of the Year.

The Wichita third baseman ranked in the top five in 10 offensive categories in the Double-A Texas League, proving he can handle the pressures of being a high draft pick.  The Kansas City Royals selected Gordon second overall in the 2005 June Draft after his junior season at the University of Nebraska. Gordon, from Lincoln, Neb., won all four collegiate baseball player of the year awards in 2005, hitting .372 with 19 homers and 66 RBIs.

The left-handed hitter got his 2006 season off to a fast start with two hits, including a home run, in his first professional game. Gordon, 22, followed that game up with two hits the next night and another three the following evening.

On his way to the league MVP award, Gordon hit .325 with 111 runs, 39 doubles, 29 homers, 101 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. After slumping a bit in June, Gordon rebounded to claim Topps Player of the Month honors for the Texas League in July and August with almost identical numbers. Gordon hit .355 with 31 RBIs in both months. The only difference was he hit one more round-tripper (10) in August than he did in July.

Gordon is the second Wichita player to win the Spink Award, joining Johnny Damon (1995). Gordon is now part of a group that includes recent Spink winners such as Major League stars Josh Beckett (2001 winner); Eric Chavez (1999); Paul Konerko (1997); Andruw Jones (1996); and Derek Jeter (1994).