Gordon takes first swings off tee since injury

TORONTO -- Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, on the disabled list because of a Grade 2-plus left groin strain, swung a bat on Thursday for the first time since the injury on July 8.

Gordon hit balls off the tee prior to the opener of a four-game series against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

"I wasn't supposed to do it until [Friday]," Gordon said. "I was just supposed to do dry hacks. But I talked [physical therapist] Jeff Blum into it.

"I did two rounds of 10. Very standard. Will do it again tomorrow."

Gordon's rehab is right on schedule.

"Hopefully by the end of the Detroit series [on this road trip], we'll take actual hitting, but just in the cage," he said.

Gordon also has been running each day for a while now.

"I've been doing some agility running every day, and every day we get a little more aggressive," he said.

Gordon doesn't feel any pain in the groin.

"It's just the soreness, which is starting to move down my leg -- gravity taking over," he said. "The bruising and swelling is going out. It's not painful.

"Oh, and 1738. Not going to get fined."