This story is featured in Issue 4.2 of Royals Baseball Insider and is available for free to all fans who attend any game during the homestand at Kauffman Stadium from July 25–31, 2019.
It took 29 games for Nicky Lopez to summon the courage. That’s when, after hitting .205 through his first month in the Major Leagues, the 24 year old approached the Royals’ veteran clubhouse leader for advice.
Alex Gordon was 23 years old when he made his Major League debut in 2007. He was batting .134 through 19 games, before reaching safely five times in a breakout game in Minnesota.