It’s a process for Kernels shortstop Gordon

CEDAR RAPIDS –In hindsight, it was lunacy to think Nick Gordon was going to be another Mike Trout or Byron Buxton. That was ill-informed and just plain unfair to the Cedar Rapids Kernels shortstop.

Guys like Trout and Buxton are the exceptions in baseball. Not many teenaged position players rocket to the big leagues as quickly as the Los Angeles Angels mega-star and Minnesota Twins mega-prospect.

'He's a first-round pick, and where he was selected was pretty high, but he's still just 19,” Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said. 'You've been spoiled here with Buxton and Trout flying through. Nicky is a good player, no doubt about it, but he just isn't going to be two years in the minor leagues and be there (in the majors). It's going to be a process for him. At the end of the process, it's going to be pretty good.”

Gordon was the sixth-overall pick in last year's draft, the first prep position player selected. The son of 21-year major league pitcher Tom Gordon and half-brother of all-star infielder Dee Gordon doesn't wow you with off-the-charts speed and athleticism or light-tower power.

He impresses you more in a subtle way, with how he goes about his business. His defense is steady and solid more than flashy, and his stroke is more singles right now than extra-base hits.

'I definitely came in just looking to get better. That was the goal,” Gordon said. 'That, and to have fun. I enjoy my teammates. If I can make them better, and they can make me better, that's what we're here for. You want to win ballgames, win a championship, of course. That would be fun, you have those goals. But, me, personally, I just want to have good at-bats. Have good at-bats and stay within myself, and the numbers will take care of themselves.”

Those numbers have risen steadily in the last couple of weeks. Once down into the .230s, Gordon's batting average was .260 after a two-hit game Friday night at Kane County.

He was 8 for his last 20 and riding a 10-game hitting streak going into Saturday's game against the Cougars. Only 13 of his 76 hits have been for extra bases, including no home runs, but he has 21 stolen bases.

'The season has been good. Some ups and downs, more downs than ups right now, but that's baseball,” he said. 'You've just got to make adjustments, and that's what I'm worried about right now.”

'Offensively, I think he's starting to grow up a little bit,” Mauer said. 'You see him shortening his swing and hanging in there better against lefties … He's doing a nice job, and I think you are going to see that average creep up.”

Gordon is listed as 6 foot and 160 pounds and absolutely must get bigger and stronger to withstand the rigors of a long season and flourish down the road. The kid is skinny.

But that'll come. In the case of this polite and rather quiet teenager, it's a marathon and not a sprint.

'You've got to go out and compete,” he said. 'You know that guys are going to come with their best, and you've got to have our best. Nothing has really surprised me. I know what this is about.”

'Nick is a young kid, he's 19, could be a freshman in college,” Mauer said. 'Most of these other guys are junior and senior (college) signs, most of the Latin guys have (at least) three years experience. It's been a test, and we figured it would be a test for him coming up here. But he's been fine.”

Local guys in the minor leagues

Here's your weekly look at how players from the Metro, area and University of Iowa are doing in the minor leagues.

- Chad Christensen (Cedar Rapids Washington): In midst of 0-for-16 slump through Friday. Average has dropped to .249 for high-Class A Fort Myers (Twins), with two home runs and 28 RBIs.

- Matt Dermody (University of Iowa): Pitching for high-A Dunedin (Blue Jays), he has a 2-0 record, a save and 4.09 earned run average in 22 games. Has struck out 42 in 50.2 innings.

- Kris Goodman (Iowa): Third baseman for Rookie-league Gulf Coast League Marlins is 2-for-20 with 10 strikeouts. One of his two hits was a home run.

- Nick Hibbing (Iowa): Unscored upon thus far in his professional career. With low-A West Virginia (Pirates), he has thrown 10 innings and struck out 10.

- Jon Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): Has 3-4 record, three saves and 4.07 earned run average for high-A Frederick (Orioles). In 23 games and 48.2 innings, has allowed 45 hits and struck out 37.

- Mitch Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): Still hasn't pitched in a game this season for Rookie-level Bristol (Pirates) because of a strained forearm. Was Pirates' second-round draft pick last year.

- Sasha Kuebel (Iowa): Pitcher for Rookie-level Johnson City (Cardinals). Is 2-0 with 2.61 ERA in six appearances. Has allowed just eight hits and struck out 13 in 10.1 innings.

- Derrick Loveless (Solon): Outfielder has gone 0 for his last 15 at the plate through Friday. Hitting .218 in 73 games for high-A Dunedin (Blue Jays), with four homers and 22 RBIs.

- Colin Rea (Cascade): Has had one rocky pitching start and one solid one since being promoted to Triple-A El Paso (Padres). Has no record and 10.13 ERA. Was 2-3 with 1.08 ERA at Double-A San Antonio in 12 starts.

- Scott Schebler (Cedar Rapids Prairie): Has been placed on disabled list for Triple-A Oklahoma City (Dodgers) with hamstring injury. Is hitting .243 in 73 games, with 10 doubles, six triples, 10 homers and 30 RBIs.

- Eric Toole (Iowa): Outfielder for short-season A Boise (Rockies) is hitting .192 in 16 games. Has three RBIs and five stolen bases.

- Justin Toole (Iowa): Infielder went 1-for-4 in first game back from disabled list at Double-A Akron (Indians). Has .190 season average in 40 games, with 17 RBIs.

- Jake Yacinich (Iowa): Shortstop for Burlington Bees (Angels) of Midwest League has seen his batting average drop to .263 during a 1-for-21 slump. Has a home run and 20 RBIs in 62 games this season.

- Taylor Zeutenhorst (Iowa): Another Midwest Leaguer with Clinton (Mariners), outfielder is hitting .233 in 42 games. Went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in game Thursday night against Quad Cities. l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com