CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The entire time Nick Gordon was on the rise as a top prospect in the national high school class of 2014, he never took his eye off the ultimate prize, which was to one day make it to the big leagues.
He never had to look too far for his inspiration, either. During his most prominent Perfect Game years from 2011-13, his brother, Dee Gordon, was already in the major leagues; his father, Tom “Flash” Gordon had retired after a very successful 19-year career in Major League Baseball.
In June 2013, Nick Gordon and his dad were celebrating Father’s Day at the Perfect Game National Showcase inside the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis, and Nick told PG just how much of influence his dad had on him and how much Tom helped him keep him focused on his goal of becoming a big-leaguer.
“Whenever I’m not feeling well or when not everything is going my way, he’s always there to help me; to get me back on track,” Nick Gordon said that day. “He’s never steered me wrong … and whenever I need somebody I always go to my dad.”
The Minnesota Twins made the young Gordon the No. 5 overall pick of the first-round in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft, and he has not been a disappointment during his first three minor league seasons. He will take another big step toward making his much-anticipated major-league debut in what is likely to be the next year or two when he becomes one of 34 Perfect Game alumni to perform at this year’s Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game. The 34 PGer’s will fill 61 percent of the East and West team’s rosters (56 total players).
The AFL East Division Fall Stars will face those selected from the AFL West Division in Minor League Baseball’s fall version of the Futures Game. The Fall Stars Game will be played at Surprise (Ariz.) Stadium – the Cactus League spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers – and is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (MST) start; it will be broadcast live on the MLB Network and live-streamed on MLB.com.
Gordon, a shortstop, is one of five alumni of the Perfect Game All-American Classic, one of 14 alumni of the PG National Showcase and one of six alumni of the PG Junior National Showcase to be invited to this year’s event.
He was at the 2013 PG A-A Classic, along with two fellow 2016 Fall Stars: right-hander Michael Kopech (Red Sox) and outfielder Michael Gettys (Padres). Left-hander Trey Ball (Red Sox) was at the 2012 Classic and outfielder Courtney Hawkins (White Sox) was there in 2011. Gordon, Kopech, Gettys and Hawkins were all at the PG National Showcase the same summer they played at the Classic.
Every one of the 56 Fall Stars have had had their own sources of inspiration during their journey to one of Minor League Baseball’s premier all-star events. For Nick Gordon, it has always been his dad.
“Whatever it takes for me to become a better player, he’s always there to tell me what I need to do and (remind me of) that extra mile that I need to go, and that I always need to put in the work,” he said in 2013. “He always makes sure my head stays on straight.”
What follows is a list of the 34 AFL Fall Stars with Perfect Game in their pasts, including (in parentheses) their current parent club and their most prominent PG appearances.
AFL East Division PG Fall Stars