Royals hope Alex Gordon can take live batting practice on Monday

The next step on Alex Gordon’s return from wrist surgery involves a date with minor-league pitchers on the backfields at the Royals complex.

The club hopes Gordon can begin taking live batting practice against the farmhands on Monday, manager Ned Yost said on Saturday morning.

"He needs to see live pitching," Yost said. "Not in the game situation. Live B.P. It’s his next progression."

Yost expects Gordon to graduate from this phase to minor-league games. The players will be running intersquad games next week.