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CLEVELAND | First baseman Ryan Shealy doesn’t want to think about what comes next. How the Royals have to make a decision on him in the upcoming off-season because he is out of options. What that means for the next step in his career.
“I’m trying my hardest not to put it into perspective,” he said. “I spent all of last year worrying about stuff that was out of my control. This year, I just told myself to come up here and play.
“When I’m in (the lineup), I’m in there. I’m really just enjoying it. To use the old cliché, I’m enjoying each day.”
Then again, how could Shealy not be enjoying himself? He hit two more homers and matched a career high with five RBIs in Sunday’s 13-3 pummeling of the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
That followed his first career four-hit effort in the second game of Saturday’s double-header sweep. Shealy is batting .370 with 10 hits in 27 at-bats, including four homers, in seven games since his Sept. 2 recall from Class AAA Omaha.
“I’m just playing, having fun and enjoying being back up here,” he said. “We’re winning some games, too, on top of it.”
Shealy, 29, once appeared set as a cornerstone of the club’s rebuilding effort after arriving July 31, 2006, from Colorado. He lost his starting job last year and spent all of this season in the minors before his September summons.
His time at Omaha didn’t start well, either.
Shealy was batting just .222 through May while battling injuries before rebounding to finish at .283 with 22 homers and 65 RBIs in 111 games. “I got off to a slow start, then I was hurt,” he said. “But I was pretty consistent for the last few months of the year. I was happy with where I ended up.”
Gordon returns
The real test for third baseman Alex Gordon came in the ninth inning after he made a diving, back-hand stop on a sharp grounder by Franklin Gutierrez. Gordon bounced to his feet and made a strong throw for the out.
“I didn’t feel anything,” he said. “So that’s good.”
Very good. It means that torn right hip flexor really is OK.
Gordon returned to the lineup Sunday for the first time since suffering the injury Aug. 21 on the Royals’ previous visit to Progressive Field. He went two for five in addition to that sparkling defensive play.
“I felt a little off at the plate,” he admitted. “I hadn’t seen any live pitching that whole time. But I got a couple of lucky hits. That gets the confidence up.”
Back to the pen
Robinson Tejeda isn’t likely to get another start despite his strong five innings in the second game of Saturday’s sweep against the Indians. He allowed one run and two hits in an 80-pitch performance.
“It shouldn’t change things,” manager Trey Hillman said, “but it’s certainly a consideration if we think somebody is hitting a bump for some reason.”
Tejeda’s victory was his first as a starter since June 8, 2007, when he worked 6 2/3 innings for Texas in a 9-6 victory over Milwaukee.
Minor details
Some quick thoughts from assistant general manager J.J. Picollo on four of the key players in Class A Burlington’s unbeaten run through the Midwest League playoffs.
To reach Bob Dutton, Royals reporter for The Star, call 816-234-4352 or send e-mail to bdutton@kcstar.com.
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