Central Floridians contribute to U.S. victory
MIAMI — As a young baseball fan in South Florida, Lewis Brinson liked to sit in the stands in center field at Marlins games so he could closely study his favorite player, Juan Pierre.
“That was my idol growing up. I would always ask for a ball, yell his name, watch his mannerism, whatever he would do out there. I just modeled myself after him,” Brinson said Sunday at Marlins Park. “I’m hoping he’s somewhere around here so I can meet him.”
The cycle moves quickly in sports of players reaching their prime, receiving adulation, declining and giving way to newcomers on the rise.
The U.S. showed hitting prowess early, then held on for a 7-6 victory, its seventh in the past eight years.
All nine U.S. starters had at least one hit, and six of them drove in runs.
U.S. starter Brent Honeywell (Rays) worked a 1-2-3 first with two strikeouts and was named MVP.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a free-swinger like his father, who was a career .318 hitter in 16 seasons in the majors, had two hits and scored twice for the World Team.
For another former big leaguer of note, three-time All-Star Tom Gordon, this was back to the future watching son Nick leading off and playing shortstop for the U.S. His older son, Dee, a 2010 Futures alumnus, is usually stationed on the other side of second base on the same field for the Marlins.
Nick Gordon, 21, is moving rapidly through the Minnesota Twins system, hitting .302 with six homers and 45 RBI for Double-A Chattanooga. He went 1-for-3 and scored a run in Sunday’s win.
“It is a very special moment,” Tom Gordon said. “I’ve been blessed with me getting an opportunity to be able to play and be around All-Star Games and great players. But to also see the kids, it’s another level of excitement right there.”
The brothers have a similar look, though Nick is more solidly built. Tom Gordon marveled at how intensely his sons constantly compete with each other, from the ball field to basketball court to video games.
Nick, a former Olympia High standout, said that has aided in his development.
“At first I didn’t really understand the competitiveness all the time,” Nick Gordon said. “[Dee] would never let me play on his team. He’d always make me play against him. He was always the best athlete on the court or on the field. For my brother to do that, looking back at it now, it’s like yeah, he was making me better. I thank Dee so much for that. He always wants the best for me.”
Brendan Rodgers, the Colorado Rockies’ top prospect, is normally a shortstop but shifted to second base. He went 1-for-1 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored while batting ninth.
Foster Griffin, a Class AA left-hander for the Kansas City Royals, got two outs in relief. He struck out one.
Rodgers attended Lake Mary and Griffin played for The First Academy.