Gordon to Join Omaha on July 3rd
Published on June 30, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA, NE - Manny schmanny! The Omaha Royals, who missed out on hosting Dodgers superstar Manny Ramirez in the just-completed four-game series against L.A.'s Triple-A affiliate, Albuquerque, learned today that Kansas City third baseman Alex Gordon will play for Omaha in a rehab assignment game this Friday, July 3rd at Rosenblatt Stadium.
While Ramirez began a rehab assignment with the Isotopes last weekend in Albuquerque, but then continued that task with the Dodgers' advanced-A affiliate, Inland Empire, Gordon will extend his rehab work with Kansas City's top-level affiliate this Friday when the O-Royals host the New Orleans Zephyrs at 6:35 p.m.
Gordon, who was the Royals' first-round pick (second overall) in the 2005 draft out of the University of Nebraska, will be making his first appearance in an Omaha uniform. As a junior in 2005, Gordon swept the collegiate baseball awards - winning the Golden Spikes Award, the Dick Howser Award, the Brooks Wallace Award and the ABCA Rawlings Player of the Year - and led the Huskers to their third College World Series appearance.
In his first professional season in 2006, he starred at Double-A Wichita, batting .325 with 29 home runs, 101 RBI and a Texas League-leading 111 runs. He earned both the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award as the Topps/Minor League Player of the Year.
That performance vaulted Gordon over Triple-A Omaha to the big leagues in 2007. In his third season with the parent Royals in 2009, Gordon played in just seven games before undergoing surgery on April 17 to repair a torn cartilage in his right hip.
He began a rehab assignment last Friday with the Surprise Royals in the rookie-level Arizona League. In three games through Monday, Gordon is 2-for-7 with a home run and three RBI.
Gordon is expected to play in just this Friday's game with Omaha, before continuing his rehab stint with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Of course, this Friday's contest is also noteworthy as being the 25th annual Independence Day Fireworks by Grucci spectacular, presented by the Omaha World-Herald, the City of Omaha, Star 104.5 and the Omaha Royals.
For tickets, call the Royals ticket office at (402) 738-5100, or order and print tickets online at www.oroyals.com and at www.Etix.com.
ABOUT THE ROYALS: Readers of Omaha Magazine voted the Omaha Royals as Best Omaha Sports Team in the magazine's 17th annual Best of Omaha Awards, published in its January/February 2009 edition. In 2008, 349,376 fans attended Omaha Royals home games, making the Royals the largest-drawing sports team or event in the metro area last year. It also marked the team's largest season attendance total since 2001, while the average of 5,375 fans per game last season was the club's highest figure since 2000. Omaha's Triple-A franchise has drawn over 300,000 fans a year to Rosenblatt for 21 consecutive seasons, dating back to 1988.
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