By Steve Webster ~ Great Bend Post

The awards keep coming for Royals left fielder Alex Gordon in recognition of a career-altering breakthrough season.

One day after receiving a Gold Glove for defensive excellence, Gordon was picked as the club’s player of the year Wednesday in a vote by the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Gordon set career highs by batting .303 with 101 runs, 45 doubles, 23 homers, 87 RBIs and 17 steals. He also led the club with a .376 on-base percentage and a .502 slugging percentage.

Major League Baseball selected Gordon as one of five finalists in July in the online vote to determine the final member of the American League All-Star team. He was also picked as the club’s player of the month in April, June and August.

And he made such a smooth transition to left field from third base – a switch that didn’t occur until midway through the 2010 season – that he won a Gold Glove for defensive excellence. He is the first Royals player to win a Gold Glove in five years.