Royals shift Alex Gordon into leadoff spot in batting order

Despite a recent series of losses, the Royals appear to have discovered at least one component of their playoff configuration, with manager Ned Yost shifting outfielder Alex Gordon into the leadoff spot for Saturday’s matinee against the Orioles.

Yost had mentioned the possibility of using Gordon as his No. 1 hitter. But he wanted to make sure Gordon had recovered sufficiently from the severe groin strain he suffered on July 8. In Yost’s mind, Gordon appears to have reached that point. After eight games back, Gordon agreed.

“I feel I have no limitations right now, to be honest with you,” Gordon said before the game. “I don’t know if that’s the way it looks, but that’s how I feel right now. I’m pretty much 100 percent.”

Gordon entered Saturday leading his team with a .394 on-base percentage. That mark is also his career-high.

“He’s running good,” Yost said. “It looks to me like he’s getting pretty close to back to normal. And I think he was, but it was just kind of a mental hurdle.”

Gordon spent the majority of his 2013, 119 games, as the team’s leadoff hitter. The Royals transferred him back into the middle of the lineup last season after they acquired Nori Aoki. Aoki eventually gave way to Alcides Escobar, who slumped his way to the No. 9 spot earlier this month.

During the past week, Yost had used Ben Zobrist at the top of the lineup. Now he feels Gordon can handle the assignment. In 2014, Yost felt he required Gordon in the heart of the lineup, in order to drive in runs. But with Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales all flourishing in that category, Kansas City can capitalize on Gordon’s ability to get on base.

“You’ve got that extra at-bat coming back around,” Yost said. “And it’s a big bat. It’s a bat that can hit the ball out of the ballpark. It’s a bat that can get on base. He can do some things with it.”

This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 11:38 PM with the headline "Royals shift Alex Gordon into leadoff spot in batting order."