Alex Gordon is retiring

Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals left fielder, is retiring, it was announced today.

The 36 year old Gordon was the #2 overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft out of the University of Nebraska, and spent all of 2007 in the majors with the Royals, slashing .247/.314/.411 in his rookie year while playing third base. After a few up and down seasons, Gordon moved from third base to left field 2010, and had a break out 2011 campaign, slashing .303/.376/.502 and putting up a 7.3 bWAR. Gordon was a legitimately great player from 2011-14, putting up a 23.8 bWAR in that four year span, appearing on MVP ballots twice, and winning Gold Gloves all four seasons.

Gordon became an exceptional defensive outfielder once he moved to left field, and won a total of seven Gold Gloves. At his peak, from 2011-15, he put up a +86 DRS and a +60.2 UZR in left field. Gordon was a key contributor on the Royals’ back-to-back A.L. Championship teams, and put up an 836 slash line in 2015 in the World Series, when the Royals won it all.

Gordon has a career 34.9 bWAR, putting him 51st all time in left field. He’s had a terrific career, and will now get to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.