Royals hope Alex Gordon can play in minor-league games next week
.JPG "For the first time since having wrist surgery in the off season, Royals outfielder Alex Gordon took batting practice before the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox spring training baseball game at Surprise Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz., on Tuesday.")
The Royals have fashioned a tentative plan to return Alex Gordon to game action, but he is still at least a week away from his 2015 Cactus League debut.
Gordon took part in outdoor batting practice on Tuesday for the first time since wrist surgery. Manager Ned Yost estimated that Gordon would repeat this activity until next week, perhaps as late as Wednesday. Then Gordon would receive at-bats in a minor-league game in order to acclimate himself to the speed of live pitching.
“We’ll get him as many at-bats as we can up there,” Yost said. “Let him see pitches. Let him see velocity. When he feels comfortable with that, we’ll start incorporating him (in big-league games).”
Yost does not worry about Gordon’s readiness in the field. He is baseball’s most decorated left fielder in recent years. His injury has not affected his shagging routine during the day.
“It’s all about the at-bats,” Yost said.
To reach Andy McCullough, call 816-234-4370 or send email to rmccullough@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @McCulloughStar.