Chiefs Add 2018 First Rounder Nolan Gorman

PEORIA, IL - A day after losing All-Star Elehuris Montero to promotion, the Peoria Chiefs have added third baseman and 2018 first round pick Nolan Gorman from Johnson City. Gorman will be the first player in team history to be born in the 2000s and the last time a first round pick joined the Chiefs in-season was 2009.

    Gorman, born May 10, 2000, is a left-handed hitting third baseman selected by the Cardinals with the 19^th overall pick in June's draft. In 37 games for Johnson City this year in the Rookie level Appalachian League, Gorman hit .345 with 11 homers, 28 RBI and 41 runs scored. He collected 10 doubles, one triple and drew 23 walks in 142 at-bats. At the time of his promotion to the Chiefs, Gorman was tied for the league lead in extra-base hits (22) while ranking second in home runs, slugging (.662) and runs scored. He was also top five in the league in batting average, doubles, total bases (94) and HR per at-bat (1/12.91).
     He made his pro debut on June 19 with a home run in his second plate appearance. In his 36 games for the JC Cardinals, Gorman had 13 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games. He had two games with four hits in Johnson City, July 29 where he also drove in four and August 4 with a home run included. He had his first four-RBI game on June 30 whit his first multi-home run contest. Gorman has put together hit streaks of nine and 11 games this season and joins the Chiefs having collected at least one hit in 21 of his last 22 starts. He also has homered in consecutive games three times this season including a three-game runs August 2-4.
    A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Gorman helped Sandra Day O'Connor High School to the Arizona 6A State Championship this year as he hit .421 with 10 homers and 32 RBI in 32 games. For his career he hit .419 with 32 home runs and 118 RBI. Gorman won titles at the 2017 MLB High School Home Run Derby in Miami and at the Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field. Before signing with the Cardinals he was committed to the University of Arizona. Gorman played for USA Baseball 18U team in September 2017 in Thunder Bay, Canada and won a WSBC World Cup gold medal with a win over Korea. He is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Cardinals #3 prospect behind Alex Reyes and Tyler O'Neill and was the first child of the 2000s to be drafted by a MLB team.
    Gorman is the second 2018 draftee to join the Chiefs this season after second round pick Luken Baker debuted on July 22 in Great Lakes. The last time the Chiefs had two top picks in the same year of the draft was 2015 when Harrison Bader and Paul DeJong both got to Peoria in early July.
     The last time a first round pick joined the Chiefs in the same year he was drafted was Brett Jackson in 2009. The outfielder, drafted by the Cubs out of the University of California, joined the Chiefs July 31 and hit .295 with seven homers, five doubles, a triple, 17 RBI, 11 steals and 30 runs scored in 26 games before missing the playoffs with a hand injury.
     Since returning to the Cardinals organization for the 2013 season, the Chiefs have seen nine first round picks including Gorman: Tyrell Jenkins (50^th - 2010) Patrick Wisdom (52^nd - 2012), Steve Bean (59^th - 2012), Rob Kaminsky (28^th - 2013), Jack Flaherty (34^th - 2014), Jake Woodford (39^th - 2015), Nick Plummer (23^rd - 2015) and Dylan Carlson (33^rd - 2016).
    Gorman is the highest draftee to be on the Chiefs roster since Javy Baez in 2012. Baez was the ninth overall selection of the 2011 draft by the Cubs. He is the highest Cardinals draftee since Shaun Boyd, All-Star on the 2002 MWL Championship team, was the 13^th overall pick in 2000. Since moving to Dozer Park the Chiefs have had 24 first round picks on the roster (not including MLB rehabs).
    The first chance for Peoria fans to see Gorman in action is Saturday as the Chiefs start a four-game series against the Clinton LumberKings. Game time is 6:30 p.m. with post-game Fireworks and Super Hero night appearances by Wonder Woman, Superman and Aquaman. Tickets for all four games in the August 11-14 homestand are available online at www.peoriachiefs.com, at the Dozer Park Box Office (10a - 5p) or by calling 1-866-MYTICKET.