Royals’ Alex Gordon vows to return quickly from groin injury

Kansas City Royals Manager Ned Yost joked that nobody had better steal Alex Gordon’s crutches, only to watch his star outfielder walk slowly into a news conference without any Thursday.

The doctors might be saying that Gordon will be out for eight weeks with a severe groin strain, but he already seemed to defy them just one day after getting hurt.

“I’m going to do everything I can to get back out there quicker,” he said.

Gordon was injured in the fourth inning of Wednesday night’s game against Tampa Bay. He crumpled to the field near the warning track and lay there for several minutes, eventually needing a cart to leave the field. He later underwent an MRI that revealed the extent of the injury.

“The news is obviously tough. I mean, I want to be out there every day,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t good, especially with the season we’re having. To be carted off and thinking that’s going to be taken away for a while, it’s frustrating.”

Yost said that the MRI revealed a “two-plus groin strain,” and that the one positive is that Gordon will not need surgery.

Matz sidelined a month

Mets pitcher Steven Matz has a partially torn muscle in his back that will sideline the impressive rookie at least a month — probably longer.

In a surprise announcement, the Mets revealed Thursday that Matz was examined at the Hospital for Special Surgery and diagnosed with a partial tear of the lat muscle on his left side.

He received a platelet-rich plasma injection and will not throw for three weeks before getting examined again.

There was no previous indication Matz was hurt. The left-hander threw six innings of two-hit ball Sunday in an 8-0 victory at Dodger Stadium. He has won both his major league starts, compiling a 1.32 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13 2-3 innings. Matz had been scheduled to pitch Sunday at home against Arizona in New York’s final game before the All-Star break.

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New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner is an All-Star for the first time. He was picked as a replacement for Gordon. He joins teammates Mark Teixeira and Dellin Betances on the American League roster for Tuesday’s game at Kansas City. Teixeira was a replacement for injured Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Orioles center fielder Adam Jones will replace Gordon in the starting lineup for the AL. ...

A person familiar with the situation says infielder Casey McGehee has agreed to terms on a contract with Miami, where he played last year and was selected the NL’s comebacker player of the year. McGehee, 32, was designated for assignment June 30 by the San Francisco Giants. McGehee lost his starting job at third base with the Giants to Matt Duffy and was demoted to the minors earlier this season. After returning he went five for 17. He batted .213 with two homers in 49 games. Last year McGehee hit .287 with 76 RBIs for the Marlins. ...

Jesus Montero has been recalled by the Seattle Mariners, giving the one-time top prospect another shot in the majors. Montero was called up Thursday from triple-A Tacoma before the start of a series with the Angels. Seattle optioned starting pitcher J.A. Happ to Class A Bakersfield, allowing the Mariners the opportunity to add another bat this weekend because Happ is not scheduled to start again until after the All-Star break. Montero was leading the Pacific Coast League in hits, runs and RBIs. He was hitting .332 with 15 homers and 68 RBIs in 84 games. Montero had a spat with a scout last year while on a minor league rehab assignment.