KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon, the former first-round pick whose roller-coaster career took him from near bust to All-Star and Gold Glove winner, announced Thursday he will retire after the season.
Gordon was the second overall pick in the 2005 first-year player draft following a standout career at Nebraska, where he won the Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur in baseball. He made his big league debut two years later and, after a few years shuttling back and forth to the minors, moved from third base to the outfield and finally found success.