Even in his new utility role, Dee Gordon plans to be the best player in the Mariners clubhouse
There are changes ahead for Seattle Mariners veteran Dee Gordon — both on the baseball field and off it.
The 31-year-old second baseman arrived at spring training Friday morning, not long after his wife gave birth to the couple’s first child, a daughter named Demi.
Gordon posted a photo of his newborn daughter on his Instagram account with a caption that read, “Welcome beautiful … I love you forever,” after she was born Tuesday. After months of anticipation, he said he was ready for his daughter to finally arrive.
“It was like, ‘Is (she) going to come? When is she going to get here? But, it’s cool, man,” Gordon said. “I was just happy to be there, happy for my daughter to be healthy, happy for Jojo to be healthy. Life is good.”
When Gordon arrived at the Mariners’ complex, he was greeted with congratulations and hugs, as he settled into the clubhouse, beginning to prepare for his third spring camp with the club.
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Looking to the future
While the Mariners aren’t exactly expected to contend for a playoff spot in 2020, these six weeks of preseason workouts and games will give us a closer look at some of the top prospects — like outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, and former first-round draft pick Logan Gilbert — expected to be key pieces of the club’s future, and some of the young players battling for Opening Day roster spots. We’ll also be able to catch up with the more experienced players — like veteran third-baseman Kyle Seager and ace pitcher Marco Gonzales — already in Seattle’s clubhouse.
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Changes are coming for him here, too. After spending the 2018 season with the Mariners bouncing around the field — he started in center field until resuming his familiar role at second base when Robinson Cano was suspended that May — and much of 2019 dealing with injuries, Gordon’s role will again shift this season.
With rookie Shed Long expected to take over the everyday role at second base, Gordon, now in the final season of a five-year contract (which includes a club option in 2021), is projected to move into a utility role.
What exactly that means isn’t clear yet — he could fill in gaps in the infield when starters need a rest, or even make his way back to the outfield at some point — but Gordon said he intends to be the best player in the clubhouse, no matter his role.
“Y’all will see,” Gordon said. “All you’ve got to do is watch. … I lost myself the last few years, and my tenacity is back.”
2019 season’s challenges
Gordon said he was “just floating” near the end of the season in 2019, just trying to get to the winter break, and wasn’t in a great spot mentally as the Mariners trudged to the end of another losing season.
“I told you about my tenacity — I was losing it because honestly I got bored with losing,” he said. “When I was down with the Marlins, we didn’t win, came here, we didn’t win. I got bored with losing so I lost my tenacity. I was just playing baseball. Even before (my daughter) came, before even last year ended, I started working toward this year.”
Gordon said he’s been watching Portland Trailblazers star Damian Lillard play a lot, and is motivated by what he’s seen.
“He’s trying to put them on his back every night,” Gordon said. “That’s what I usually do. … If I’m going to be here, I’m going to be the best player here. I’m going to make sure of that. Every single day, every single out, I’m not taking a pitch off. I’m not taking an at-bat off, I’m not taking a stolen base off, I’m not taking a run off.”
Gordon made a pair of trips to the injured list last season, with a wrist contusion and a quad strain, and finished hitting .275/.304/.359 with 12 doubles, six triples, 34 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 117 games while playing primarily second base.
What Gordon will bring to utility role
When Gordon does get on the field this spring, likely still somewhere in the infield to start off, Mariners manager Scott Servais expects to see the same competitiveness Gordon has shown in the past.
“Dee is very driven,” Servais said. “Dee has been told his his whole life that he can’t do things or accomplish things. Like a lot of guys in that room, he’s always proven them wrong.
“I know he’s worked very hard this offseason. Biggest thing for Dee is that he’s got to stay healthy. We are going to ask that he be a little more versatile, and that he move around the field a little bit more. He’s open to that. He wants to play. Bottom line, he wants to play. He wants to win.”
In a young clubhouse, Gordon also has plenty to offer as a veteran voice entering his 10th season in the majors. He said he’s going to “play hard and lead by example.”
“He’s been a very good teammate with these young guys,” Servais said. “Last year we saw it, and I’ve been in communication with him this offseason — a number of guys were down in the Orlando area and worked out with him this offseason.
“As we know, Dee brings a lot of energy and a lot of life when he’s in there. I expect to see it.”
This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 9:10 AM with the headline "Even in his new utility role, Dee Gordon plans to be the best player in the Mariners clubhouse."
