MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-The Kansas City Royals announced Wednesday that third baseman Alex Gordon will play for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on a minor league rehabilitation assignment beginning this weekend.

 

Gordon, the Royals’ first-round selection (second overall) in 2005 out of the University of Nebraska, has been out since April 17^thafter undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right hip.Currently rehabbing with the Surprise Royals in the rookie-level Arizona League, Gordon will report initially to Triple-A Omaha for Friday evening’s contest against the New Orleans Zephyrs before joining the Naturals.

 

The Royals have indicated that Gordon is slated to join the Naturals for their series at Corpus Christi, then return to Springdale with the club and, barring any setbacks, continue his rehab assignment during the Naturals’ series with the Missions at Arvest Ballpark beginning July 9^th.

 

Gordon was a top star in the collegiate circuit, sweeping the collegiate baseball awards as a junior in 2005 – winning the Golden Spikes Award, the Dick Howser Award, the Brooks Wallace Award, and the ABCA Rawlings Player of the Year award as he led his Huskers to their third appearance in the College World Series.
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One year later, he had an unforgettable year in his first professional season with Double-A Wichita, posting a .325 average with 29 homers and 101 runs driven in, earning both Baseball America’s award for Minor League Player of the Year and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award as the Topps Minor League Player of the Year as he led the Wranglers to the 2006 Texas League Championship Series.

 

In three games through Monday on rehab with the Surprise Royals, Gordon is 2-for-7 with a home run and three RBI. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale.

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