Alex Gordon

Though Gordon was Nebraska's top high school prospect in 2002, he went undrafted because he was set on playing for his hometown Cornhuskers. Three years later, he's the best college position player in the draft and has considerably more offensive potential than former Husker Darin Erstad, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 draft. Gordon should hit for power and average because he has a sweet lefthanded swing, strength, exceptional strike-zone discipline and the ability to make adjustments. He uses the entire field and can drive the ball where it's pitched after getting pull-conscious as a sophomore. After a slow start with wood bats last summer, he adapted and became Team USA's second-best hitter (behind Virginia's Ryan Zimmerman). Zimmerman's skill at the hot corner forced Gordon to play first base, but he's a solid defender at third. When Gordon first arrived at Nebraska, some thought he might have to move to first base or an outfield corner. But he has worked hard on his defense, where his strong arm, instincts and quickness are assets. A solid-average runner, Gordon is chasing a rare 20-20 season this spring. There's no glaring weakness in his game, and he should advance rapidly as a pro. Gordon probably won't go as high as Erstad and may command a major league contract, but he's not considered a particularly tough sign.