Hip surgery for KC third baseman

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 17 (UPI) -- Kansas City Royals third baseman Alex Gordon will miss 10-12 weeks after undergoing successful right hip surgery on Friday, the team said.

Gordon was injured last Saturday in a game against the New York Yankees. He was placed on Kansas City's 15-day disabled list Thursday with what doctors called a right hip labral cartilage tear.

The procedure was performed Friday morning by Dr. Marc Philippon, a specialist sometimes called the "hip doctor to the stars," in Vail, Colo.

Philippon performed the same surgery March 9 on New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez.

Gordon was struggling this season, with just two hits in 21 at-bats, an .095 batting average.

"I expect him to come back and be very productive for us," Royals' General Manager Dayton Moore told the Kansas City Star. "Until then, we've got some other guys who need to step up."

The Royals recalled outfielder Mitch Maier from Triple-A Omaha to fill Gordon's roster spot.