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KANSAS CITY -- The first substantial clue that Alex Gordon might be headed away from third base has surfaced.

The Royals announced Friday that Gordon will be playing in the Arizona Fall League as a first baseman.

Gordon, the club's top draft choice this year, will replace first baseman Justin Huber on the Surprise Scorpions roster.

Drafted as a third baseman, Gordon signed for a bonus of $4 million after summer-long negotiations. He has been playing in the Arizona Instructional League.

"Alex will be taking the roster spot of Justin Huber and will be playing first base, a position he has played before," said Shaun McGinn, the Royals' senior director of Minor League operations.

"The main focus is getting Alex at-bats," he said. "He will still come into Spring Training next year as a third baseman."

Even so, the Royals seem convinced that Mark Teahen, who exhibited sharp fielding skills as a rookie, is their third baseman of the future.

Gordon, a left-handed batter, showed the Royals enough at the University of Nebraska as a hitter to make him the overall No. 2 pick in last June's draft.

First base, for now, is a crowded junction in Kansas City with Mike Sweeney, Matt Stairs and Huber all in line at that spot as well as designated hitter.

Another hot-hitting third baseman, Billy Butler, was switched to left field halfway through the Minor League season.