Kansas City Royals: Every First Round Pick Since 2000

Every Royals first-round draft pick since 2000: Alex Gordon (2005)

A year after drafting Billy Butler, the Kansas City Royals added another franchise player in the form of Alex Gordon. Gordon dominated at the University of Nebraska and as a result, was the second overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft.

Gordon grew up as a Royals fan, which made drafting him even cooler. He got his first call up to the big leagues in 2007 and struck out with the bases loaded in his first Major League at-bat.

Gordon was drafted as a third baseman but struggled throughout his first four seasons with the Royals. He was looking like yet another failed prospect in the farm system.

Dayton Moore eventually made the decision to send Gordon back to the minor leagues and have him learn how to play in the outfield. That was the best decision Moore ever made and Gordon has blossomed into one of the best left fielders in the game.

Once he returned from his stint in Omaha, Alex Gordon was a whole new man both offensively and defensively. That very next season was the only year in which Gordon batted over .300 for the season. He also had 23 home runs in 2011, which is still his career-high.

Gordon wasn’t nearly as successful after 2011, but he was still clutch at the plate. He went to three straight All-Star Games from 2013-2015 and made HUGE plays during the postseason runs in both 2014 and 2015.

The biggest moment for Alex Gordon was none other than his game-tying home run in Game 1 of the 2015 World Series. The Royals were trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth. With one out already, Gordon stepped into the batter’s box to face Mets closer Jeurys Familia. On a 1-1 pitch, Gordon took Familia’s pitch into the Kauffman fountains and pointed his finger in the air as he rounded the bases.

It was an iconic image for everyone in Kansas City and was likely the main reason that Dayton Moore and the rest of the Royals front office wanted Gordon back in Kansas City. He officially retired from Major League Baseball after the 2020 season.