ESPN MLB

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Kansas City Royals activated outfielder Coco Crisp from the bereavement list Thursday and optioned infielder Tug Hulett to Triple-A Omaha.

Crisp missed two games following the death of his great-grandmother. The center fielder, who missed four games prior to going on the bereavement list with a sore right shoulder, was in the starting lineup Thursday at Tampa Bay.

Royals manager Trey Hillman said third baseman Alex Gordon, sidelined after undergoing right hip surgery in April, is ready to start light jogging. Gordon has been riding a stationary bike and hitting off a tee.

Shortstop Mike Aviles, who underwent additional tests this week on his strained right forearm, will rest his arm for two weeks and then be re-evaluated.

Pitcher Doug Waechter (right elbow strain) has started a throwing program and will report to the Royals' complex in Arizona this weekend.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press