Gordon to start rehab assignment at Omaha
All-Star outfielder says plan is to alternate between DH, field work
BOSTON -- Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, who is here with the team, will leave on Saturday to begin an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha, he said before Thursday's series opener against the Red Sox.
Gordon, who has been out since early July with a Grade 2-plus groin strain, said he can't wait.
"I'm very excited," the All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner said. "Tired of watching games from the bench and not being able to participate. Slowly I've been able to do more and more in the field. Still not 100 percent, but we feel like it's time to get it rolling."
The plan is to start fairly slow at Omaha, with Gordon being the designated hitter at first, then playing five innings in the field the next game, then DH again, then seven innings in the field, and so on.
"Probably go DH-play-DH-play-DH-play, then play-play-play," he said. "I don't know exactly when the callup will be, but I'll be down there at least a week."
It's possible Gordon could be back up before Sept. 1, though then the Royals would have to make another roster move to make room for him.
"I don't know. I can't answer that," he said. "In my eyes, I hope [it's before Sept. 1]. It all depends on my feedback and how I feel. I'll be careful to know when to [go for it] and when not to in the field."
Gordon said he began doing sprints last week.
"I've been doing 10 sprints down and back, and running the bases," he said.
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No decision on Guthrie
Manager Ned Yost said he has not made a decision yet on whether struggling right-hander Jeremy Guthrie will make his next start against Baltimore on Monday at Kauffman Stadium.
"We'll see," Yost said.
Guthrie didn't make it past the fifth inning on Wednesday against the Reds and his ERA now is 5.65.
Infante's back
Second baseman Omar Infante continues to improve in regards to his back spasms, Yost said. But he was not in the starting lineup for the fifth straight game on Thursday.
"He could play if we needed him," Yost said, "but we don't need to push it."