Wikipedia

Nolan Gorman

Nolan Brian Gorman (born May 10, 2000) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Nolan Gorman
Gorman with the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2019
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 16
Second baseman
Born: (2000-05-10) May 10, 2000 (age 24)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 20, 2022, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.222
Home runs60
Runs batted in161
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Thunder Bay Team

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Gorman was drafted by the Cardinals out of high school in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. Gorman became one of the top prospects in baseball and played in their minor-league system before making his MLB debut and becoming part of their starting lineup in 2022.

Amateur career

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Gorman attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix.[1] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arizona in August 2015.[2] In 2016, as a sophomore, he batted .490 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs, and in 2017, as a junior, he batted .361 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs.[3] That July, he won in the MLB High School Home Run Derby in Miami, Florida.[4] Later that month, he played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game and won its home run derby.[5] In September 2017, he played for the USA Baseball 18U National Team, helping lead Team USA to its fourth consecutive gold medal.[6] In 2018, as a senior, Gorman slashed .421/.641/.894 with 10 home runs, helping lead O'Connor to a 6A baseball state championship.[7][8]

Professional career

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Minor leagues

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The St. Louis Cardinals picked Gorman in the first round, with the 19th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[9] He signed with St. Louis for $3.231 million and was assigned to the Johnson City Cardinals of the Rookie Appalachian League.[10][11] He homered in the second at-bat of his first professional game.[12] During his stint in Johnson City, he was named an Appalachian League All-Star along with being named the league's Player of the Week for July 30 to August 5.[13] After batting .345/.440/.662 with 11 home runs and 28 RBIs in 37 games, he was promoted to the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League in August.[14] He finished the season with Peoria, batting .202 with six home runs and 16 RBIs in 25 games.[15]

Gorman returned to Peoria to begin the 2019 season.[16] He was named the Midwest League's first Player of the Week for the season on April 15 after batting .395 with four home runs and 13 RBIs.[17] In June, he was named to the Midwest League All-Star Game, and competed in the Home Run Derby.[18][19] On June 19, he was promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League.[20] In July, he represented the Cardinals in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game alongside Dylan Carlson.[21] Over 125 games between Peoria and Palm Beach, Gorman slashed .248/.326/.439 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs.[22]

After the Cardinals acquired All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado before the 2021 season, Gorman began practicing at second base after being a third baseman throughout his career.[23] To begin the 2021 season, Gorman was assigned to the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Central.[24] On June 12, 2021, in a game against the Arkansas Travelers, he became the first Springfield player to hit three home runs in a regular-season game.[25] After slashing .288/.354/.508 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs over 43 games, he was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A East in late June.[26] That same month, Gorman was selected to represent the Cardinals (alongside Matthew Liberatore) in his second All-Star Futures Game.[27] Over 76 games with Memphis, Gorman slashed .274/.320/.465 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs.[28] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs after the season where he was named to the Fall Stars Game.[29][30]

Major leagues

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Gorman playing second base for the Cardinals in 2023

Gorman returned to Memphis to begin the 2022 season.[31] After slashing .308/.367/.677 with 15 home runs and 23 RBIs in 34 games, the Cardinals announced on May 19 that they would be selecting his contract and promoting him to the major leagues to make his MLB debut the next day as the starting second baseman.[32][33] In his first at-bat, he singled against Zach Thompson of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and finished the night one-for-three with a walk.[34] On May 28, Gorman hit his first MLB home run versus Adrian Houser of the Milwaukee Brewers in an 8-3 win.[35] On June 21, against the Brewers, he had his first two–home run game.[36]

Gorman hit the second of a record-tying four consecutive home runs on July 2, 2022, the 11th such occurrence in major league history. At Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Nolan Arenado, Gorman, Juan Yepez and Dylan Carlson all homered off Phillies starter Kyle Gibson with two outs in the first inning. It was the first time the Cardinals had accomplished the feat, and the first time that it occurred in the first inning.[37] On September 19, the Cardinals optioned him to Memphis.[38] He remained there until the season's end, when he was then added to the Cardinals' roster for the Wild Card Series.[39] Over 89 games and 283 at-bats with St. Louis, he slashed .226/.300/.420 with 14 home runs, 35 RBIs, and 13 doubles.[40]

Gorman started for the Cardinals on 2023 Opening Day as their designated hitter.[41] On May 22, 2023, Gorman was named the National League Player of the Week after batting .458 with four home runs and 11 RBIs.[42] Gorman appeared in 119 games for the Cardinals, batting .236 with 27 home runs and 76 RBIs.[43] He missed time during the season due to back injuries.[44]

Gorman opened the 2024 season as the Cardinals' starting second baseman. Gorman was optioned to Memphis on August 21 after batting .203 with 19 home runs along with a MLB-worst 37.6% strikeout rate.[45]

Personal life

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Gorman has been friends with fellow 2018 first round pick and Cardinals teammate Matthew Liberatore since they were five years old.[46] Gorman was the first player born in the year 2000 to be drafted by an MLB team.[47]

References

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  1. ^ "MLB Draft: Sandra Day O'Connor (Phoenix) slugger Nolan Gorman drafted by St. Louis Cardinals". USA Today High School Sports. June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  2. ^ Alexander, Ari. "Two Arizona commits drafted in first round of MLB Draft". KVOA. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  3. ^ "Arizona commit Nolan Gorman wins High School Home Run Derby". USA Today High School Sports. July 11, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  4. ^ "Glendale athlete wins MLB High School Home Run Derby". azcentral.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "Gorman is Home Run king again, wins UA All-America Derby". MLB.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  6. ^ "Mountain Ridge's Matthew Liberatore, SDO's Nolan Gorman lead USA baseball to gold". azcentral.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  7. ^ Sanchez, Jesse (May 31, 2018). "The close friendship of two top Draft prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Jackson, Darrell (May 24, 2018). "Mountain Ridge falls one game short of championship". Glendale Star. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  9. ^ Schaeffer, Brenden. "MLB Draft: Cardinals select two sluggers and a fast-rising college pitcher on day one". KMOV. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  10. ^ "Cardinals sign top 2018 Draft pick Gorman". MLB.com. June 11, 2018.
  11. ^ Timmerman, Tom (June 12, 2018). "Cards' top draft pick Nolan Gorman visits Busch, signs contract". Herald&Review. St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  12. ^ Goold, Derek (June 21, 2018). "Cardinals' top draft pick Gorman homers in pro debut". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  13. ^ "Gorman and Parsons Named to 2018 Appalachian League All Star Team". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  14. ^ Baugh, Peter (August 8, 2018). "Cardinals first-round pick Nolan Gorman promoted to Class A Peoria | Cardinal Beat". stltoday.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  15. ^ "Nolan Gorman Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  16. ^ "Where will Nolan Gorman and other Cardinals top prospects be as the minor-league season begins?". ksdk.com. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  17. ^ "Minor League Players of the Week: Lowe, Gorman, Ober". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  18. ^ "Gorman, Franco tapped as MWL All-Stars".
  19. ^ Bohlmann, Janie (June 18, 2019). "Nolan Gorman in HR Derby | CIProud.com". Centralillinoisproud.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  20. ^ Roto (June 20, 2019). "Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Moves on to Florida State League". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  21. ^ Goold, Derrick (June 28, 2019). "Gorman, Carlson selected to represent Cardinals at Futures Game". STLtoday.com.
  22. ^ "Nolan Gorman steps up, rakes for St. Louis Cardinals". MiLB.com. February 26, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  23. ^ Ben Boyd (February 18, 2021). "St. Louis Cardinals top prospect Nolan Gorman playing 2B". Radio.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  24. ^ Parker, Chris. "Springfield Cardinals announce 2021 preliminary Opening Day roster". O-zarks Sports Zone. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  25. ^ "Nolan Gorman hits three home runs". Mlb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  26. ^ "Cardinals promote Gorman, Walker and Nunez". ksdk.com. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  27. ^ "Futures Game rosters are STACKED". MLB.com.
  28. ^ "Nolan Gorman hits three-run homer in AFL". MLB.com.
  29. ^ "Press release: Cardinals announce 2021 Arizona Fall League selections". MLB.com.
  30. ^ "Arizona Fall League 2021 Fall Stars Game rosters". MLB.com.
  31. ^ Guerrero, Daniel (April 3, 2022). "Pipeline isn't loaded, but several top-end prospects could help the Cardinals soon". STLtoday.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  32. ^ Woo, Katie (May 20, 2022). "Cardinals to call up top prospects Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore". The Athletic. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  33. ^ Ladson, Bill (May 19, 2022). "Friends since 5 years old get call to Majors together". MLB.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  34. ^ Denton, John (May 21, 2022). "'That was fun': Gorman singles in first MLB at-bat". MLB.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  35. ^ Perry, Dayn (May 28, 2022). "Cardinals' Nolan Gorman snaps out of mini-slump by blasting first career major-league home run". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  36. ^ "Rookie Gorman propels Cards with 2 HRS, 4 RBIs". MLB.com.
  37. ^ Murphy, Alex (July 2, 2022). "St. Louis Cardinals hit four consecutive home runs". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  38. ^ "Cardinals option rookie second baseman Nolan Gorman, recall fellow rookie Juan Yepez". September 20, 2022.
  39. ^ "Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Added to wild-card roster". October 7, 2022.
  40. ^ "Nolan Gorman Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  41. ^ "Cardinals release opening day lineup". March 30, 2023.
  42. ^ "Gorman is NL Player of the Week | 05/22/2023". MLB.com.
  43. ^ Worthy, Lynn (October 16, 2023). "Why Cardinals slugger Nolan Gorman felt there was plenty 'left on the table' this season". STLtoday.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  44. ^ Denton, John (February 21, 2024). "Nolan Gorman back from injury for 2024 Cardinals". MLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  45. ^ Guerrero, Daniel (August 21, 2024). "Cardinals option Nolan Gorman to Class AAA Memphis, recall Jose Fermin to majors". St. Louis Post Dispatch.
  46. ^ Morin, Richard (February 15, 2018). "Arizona's Matthew Liberatore and Nolan Gorman: Opponents, draft prospects — and best friends". AZcentral.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  47. ^ Cwik, Chris (June 4, 2018). "Ready to feel old? Some of this year's MLB draft class were born in 2000. school". Yahoo Sports. Yahoo.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
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