The Twins transferred Gordon (lower leg) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Royce Lewis (knee) -- who was activated from the 60-day IL on Monday -- and confirms that Gordon will miss at least two months due to the fractured right tibia he suffered May 17. The Twins haven't specified that Gordon will require surgery, so the 27-year-old looks like he'll still have a chance to return to action at some point during the second half of the season. Before getting hurt, Gordon had been seeing steady playing time in center field, but he'll likely see lighter usage while serving as more of a roving utility man whenever he's deemed ready to return from the IL.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Placed on IL with leg fracture
Rotowire
Gordon was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Twins on Friday with a right tibia fracture.
Gordon suffered the unfortunate injury when he fouled a ball off his leg during Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers. While the Twins have not offered a timeline for the utility player's return, he figures to be on the shelf for a while.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Suffers fractured shin
Rotowire
Gordon has been diagnosed with a fractured right shin, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Gordon suffered the injury when he fouled a ball off his shin during the fifth inning of Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers. He's headed to the injured list, although it's not clear at this point how much time he might miss. Gordon had been seeing increased playing time in center field of late, but now those starts should go back to Michael Taylor.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Leaves with shin contusion
Rotowire
Gordon was removed in the bottom of the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Dodgers with a right shin contusion, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Gordon fouled a ball hard off his right leg in the top of the fifth inning. He finished the plate appearance -- with an inning-ending strikeout -- before getting replaced by Kyle Farmer to begin the bottom of the frame. Gordon, who finished 0-for-2, can be considered day-to-day.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Gets Tuesday off
Rotowire
Gordon is not in the starting lineup against the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Gordon has become a regular in the Minnesota lineup as of late, but he'll get Tuesday off with Michael Taylor earning a start in center field against Clayton Kershaw.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Handling center field
Rotowire
Gordon is starting in center field and batting sixth for the Twins on Thursday against the Padres.
Gordon mostly played second base early on this season when Jorge Polanco was sidelined, but each of his last seven starts have come in center field. He's struggled to get going at the plate this season with a .491 OPS, though both of his home runs have come in his last 10 games.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Hits another homer
Rotowire
Gordon went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in a loss to the White Sox on Wednesday.
Gordon hit his second homer in as many games when he took Dylan Cease deep in the fourth inning. The sudden power surge is surprising given that Gordon had no homers in his first 20 games of the season. It's been an interesting campaign for the utility man, as he's dropped his strikeout rate dramatically to a minuscule 6.6 percent (down from 23.7 percent last season) but has worked just one walk while slashing .153/.167/.322 over 61 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Hits first homer of 2023
Rotowire
Gordon went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox.
Gordon pinch hit for Michael Taylor in the eighth inning and knotted the game up at two with a blast to center field for his first home run of the season. The 27-year-old has tallied a hit in three straight games and has three RBI over that span as well. Still, Gordon has struggled mightily over the course of the season thus far, slashing .140/.155/.263 even with nearly all of his plate appearances coming against righties.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Productive in rare start
Rotowire
Gordon started in center field and went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored in Sunday's 8-4 victory over the Royals. He's hitting .127 (7-for-55) with no home runs this season.
Gordon also had a key safety squeeze bunt to drive in a run. It was just the second time he's played in the last eight games. He's lost playing time amid a slow April at the plate and with Joey Votto and Trevor Larnach off to strong starts. Gordon at least showed some signs of life Sunday so that he can maybe be more of a factor off the bench.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Playing time dwindling
Rotowire
Gordon remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Gordon is on the bench for the fifth game in a row and appears to have moved back into a full-time bench role after he had started in 11 of the Twins' first 13 games while Minnesota was without several regulars due to injury. Minnesota still has a number of key bats on the shelf, but with Joey Gallo (intercostal) getting activated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday and Jorge Polanco (knee) and Alex Kirilloff (wrist) in the midst of minor-league rehab assignments and not far behind, Gordon's opportunities to make starts could become even more scarce.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: On bench Friday
Rotowire
Gordon isn't in the Twins' lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees.
Gordon's cold start at the plate (.253 OPS) will cost him a start Friday. In his place, Edouard Julien will take over at second base and bat eighth.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Breaks slump with two hits
Rotowire
Gordon went 2-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's victory over the White Sox.
Gordon had started the season in a 2-for-26 slump, so this was a much-needed bounceback performance. Gordon should continue to get steady playing time in the near term amid several injuries among the starting lineup, but he'll get increased competition when Jorge Polanco and other hitters return from the injured list. It's also possible Edouard Julien could work his way into the mix at second base after he was called up from the minors. The bottom line is that's Gordon will need to build on Tuesday's game to keep his bat in the lineup.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: On bench again Friday
Rotowire
Gordon is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Astros.
Gordon will remain on the bench for a second straight game as the Twins start their series with Houston. Kyle Farmer will draw the start at second base and bat sixth in the series opener.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Gets first day off
Rotowire
Gordon is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Gordon is one of three lefty-hitting lineup regulars who will take a seat Wednesday versus Miami southpaw Jesus Luzardo, with Joey Gallo and Max Kepler (knee) joining him on the bench. Kyle Farmer will fill in at second base for Gordon, who is sitting for the first time this season after going 1-for-14 with a run scored through the Twins' first five games.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: In line for starts at second base
Rotowire
Gordon is "the most logical, straightforward path to replacing" the injured Jorge Polanco (knee) at second base, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Using Gordon as the regular second baseman -- at least against righties -- would take away from his versatility which the Twins value, but he's the most sensible fill-in option while Polanco recuperates. Kyle Farmer and Donovan Solano also figure to see time at the keystone, especially versus lefties. It's unclear how long Polanco might be sidelined as he deals with some lingering soreness following knee surgery, but it shouldn't be too lengthy of an absence.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Back in action Thursday
Rotowire
Gordon (ankle) is starting at second base and batting fifth for the Twins in Thursday's Grapefruit League game versus the Rays.
Gordon wound up being sidelined a little shy of two weeks with a high ankle sprain, which is a pretty swift recovery. Barring any setbacks, he'll be ready to roll on Opening Day and could receive close to everyday playing time while bouncing around to different positions.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Expects to return Thursday
Rotowire
Gordon (ankle) expects to start at second base during the Twins' Grapefruit League game versus the Rays on Thursday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Gordon's recovery from a high-ankle sprain seems to be moving along a little more quickly than expected, putting him on track to be ready for Opening Day as long as he can avoid setbacks. The 27-year-old should receive close to everyday playing time in 2023 as he bounces around the diamond.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Fields grounders, hits Monday
Rotowire
Gordon (ankle) took part in fielding drills and took batting practice Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Gordon didn't appear to be doing much lateral movement in the field while he works his way back from a left high-ankle sprain, but his activity Monday represents a nice step forward in his recovery nonetheless. He's also been able to do some hitting and running without issues. It's not clear when Gordon might be ready to re-enter the Grapefruit League lineup, but he wouldn't appear to be too far off.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Hitting and running without issues
Rotowire
Gordon (ankle) has begun his hitting and throwing progressions without issues, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Gordon suffered a mild-to-moderate left high ankle sprain in early March, placing his Opening Day availability in some doubt. His exact timeline is not yet clear, but he's taking steps in the right direction.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Nick Gordon: Suffers high ankle sprain
Rotowire
Gordon was diagnosed Friday with a mild-to-moderate left high ankle sprain, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Gordon suffered the injury on a play in the infield during Friday afternoon's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. X-rays turned up negative for any fractures, but he was in a walking boot and using crutches as he left the Twins' clubhouse in Florida. The 27-year-old will be held out at least through the weekend, per manager Rocco Baldelli, and this could very well turn into a multi-week absence from exhibition action.
