Nick Gordon promoted; Ervin Santana coming to AT&T

Chattanooga Lookouts shortstop Nick Gordon (1) throws the ball to first Sunday, April 8, 2018 during the Lookouts game against the Barons at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chattanooga Lookouts shortstop Nick Gordon (1) throws the ball to first Sunday, April 8, 2018 during the Lookouts game against the Barons at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tenn.

It was always a matter of "when" and not "if" Chattanooga Lookouts second-year infielder Nick Gordon would be promoted this season.

When came today.

The Minnesota Twins bumped the 22-year-old Gordon up to Triple-A Rochester (N.Y.), fulfilling a guarantee that Twins first-year player development director Jeremy Zoll made before the season. Knowing such a call could come at any moment, Gordon displayed a consistency that yielded a .333 average in 42 games with five home runs and 20 RBIs.

His fifth homer occurred during Monday night's loss in Biloxi.

Gordon played in 122 games for last season's Lookouts, who set a franchise record with 91 regular-season victories, hitting .270 with nine homers and 66 RBIs. His average this season ranked fourth in the league, with his 85 total bases ranking first.

The Lookouts are off today and must move on without Gordon on Wednesday night at 7:15, when Montgomery visits for the first of a five-game series. His departure is being countered by the arrival of Minnesota pitcher Ervin Santana, who will be making a rehab assignment.

Santana went 16-8 last season with a 3.28 earned run average and five complete games, but he underwent finger surgery in February and was placed on the 60-day disabled list. The 35-year-old has a career record of 149-124, which includes a 14-10 mark with the 2014 Atlanta Braves, but he was suspended 80 games with Minnesota at the start of the 2015 season after a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.

For more information, read Wednesday's Times Free Press.

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