As I mentioned in the latest Prospect Star of the Day, Dee Gordon is the hottest hitter in the minor leagues and is getting big love from Baseball America and the Hot Sheet:
Why He's Here: .480/.552/.680 (12-for-25), 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SO, 4-for-5 SB
The Scoop: Despite playing at a lower classification, Gordon has a higher ceiling than the other prominent shortstop prospects on the Dodgers' depth chart (Chin-Hung Lu, Ivan DeJesus Jr.). His game-changing speed and discerning batting eye make him a potential top of the order hitter. Gordon also is a potential plus defender, but what's stood out the most in the Midwest League is his speed—his 36 steals and eight triples both lead the circuit, and he's second in the league in runs scored.
With thanks to Tango and Cash we have these plaudits from Baseball Prospectus Kevin Goldstein:
“Dee Gordon, SS, Dodgers (Single-A Great Lakes)
It’s possible that no prospect excites me as much as Gordon has this year. He’s reeled off seven straight multi-hit games as part of an 11-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 22-for-45 to boost his season averages to .308/.372/.405, with his blinding speed adding eight triples and 40 stolen bases. The thing is, when you ask scouts about him, all they talk about is how incredibly raw he is. He’s getting this done on almost pure athleticism alone, and the gap between what he is now and what he can be is still massive. While it will require more research and discussion, I’m becoming convinced that he’s the top prospect in the Dodgers’ system right now.”
to winning the Midwest League Player of the Week:
Midwest League
Dee Gordon, Great Lakes
.500 (13-26), 10 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR,1 RBI, 3 BB, 4 SO, 7 SB, .577 SLG
Dee Gordon has got both an 11-game hitting streak and a seven-game multi-hit streak. The Dodgers prospect finished a terrific week at the plate by scoring a pair of runs in each of the last four games. Gordon has raised his average to a team-best .308. He also leads the Loons in hits (86), on-base percentage (.372), stolen bases (40) and triples (8).
It would have nice a perfect ending to the story if Dee Gordon had then dominated the All-Star Game but alas he was only able to manage a single and stolen base as the many Loons from the East defeated the West.
The East was loaded with Loons (Pedroza, Kyle Russell, Dee Gordon, and Delmonico) started the game. Walter, Redding and Guerra pitched in relief with Walter giving up two of the three runs that the West scored. Redding and Guerra got four outs (two a piece) with no hits. Kyle Russell went 0/5 but the other three Loons all contributed to the scoring.
These are all players who we hope to keep covering as they climb the prospect ladder but no one seems to have climbed that ladder faster then one Dee Gordon.