Dee Gordon’s position transition
By Cary Osborne
Last week at a stop on the Dodgers’ “Pitching in the Community” caravan, a little boy asked Dee Gordon about what position he played.
Gordon told the boy he played second base.
Prior to 2013, all Gordon had ever known as a Dodger was shortstop. But in an effort to fill some organizational needs, Gordon was asked last year to add some other positions to his plate. Now the once-prized Major League prospect has more versatility and will go into Spring Training with a shot at winning an Opening Day roster spot as a utility infielder (and maybe outfielder). The best-case scenario for Gordon is a starting spot at second base.
“I can’t even put it into words. There’s not a ceiling for how hungry I am,” Gordon said. “I just want to play baseball and play everyday. Play hard and help my team win as many games as possible.”
Gordon said the public has not seen his best in parts of three Major League seasons.
“You’ve seen the Dee Gordon that’s young, learning on the fly,” he said. “I’m still learning a lot, but you’re definitely going see the same (dedicated) player.”
The 25-year-old, who in 2010 was the Dodgers’ top prospect and 36th ranked prospect overall in baseball by MLB.com, has seen the peaks and valleys since his Major League debut in 2011.
He had an impressive rookie season, batting .304 with 24 stolen bases in 56 games. But there were aspects of his game that were still works-in-progress — his defense being one thing and his patience at the plate (he had just seven walks in 233 plate appearances that season) being another.
Gordon’s batting average dipped nearly 80 points in 2012 and it was decided he wasn’t ready to be the top-of the-order table-setter he was previously hoped to be. He needed more seasoning in the minor leagues in 2012 and 2013. With Hanley Ramirez cemented at shortstop after a midseason 2012 trade, it left Gordon without a starting job.
But Gordon’s appearance on the NLDS and NLCS rosters during last year’s postseason showed just how much of an asset he still is (in 497 minor league games he has 227 stolen bases, and in 181 MLB games he has 66 stolen bases).
Last season, the position transition began and he played 20 games at second base for Double-A Albuquerque. Gordon played some center field and second base in the Dominican Winter League this Major League offseason.
“It was good. I had a good time. Learned a lot about myself,” Gordon said. “I learned some stuff to help me at shortstop and second base. I’m happy where I am as a ballplayer. I think I made the necessary steps to make the necessary adjustments to play at a high level in the Major Leagues.”
Gordon said he felt he played great in center field, as well.
Now he’ll go into camp with something different to offer the Dodgers in 2014. With all those adjustments, there is one thing that people don’t have to worry about changing, Gordon said.
“Same speed,” he said.
