Watch injured KC Royals slugger Vinnie Pasquantino belt baseballs in Thursday BP

Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino took an encouraging step in his return from right-thumb surgery on Thursday.

Pasquantino took live batting practice ahead of the Royals’ series finale against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. And he looked good in those swings against a pitching machine, spraying baseballs around the field.

Pasquantino broke his thumb during a late-August game in Houston. His glove collided with Astros catcher Yanier Diaz as Pasquantino attempted to catch an incoming throw.

The Royals placed Pasquantino on the 10-day injured list Aug. 30. His recovery timeline, according to the club, is six to eight weeks.

But the Royals continue to monitor Pasquantino’s recovery. He traveled with the team for the final two regular-season series, so he will be in Atlanta as the team opens its last one against the Braves on Friday with playoff hopes in the balance.

Pasquantino won’t be playing this weekend, of course, but he has been doing lower-body exercises to remain in game-shape, according to Royals manager Matt Quatraro.

“Vinnie is doing really well,” Quatraro said Tuesday, after the injured big-leaguer had hit in a batting cage. “He’s progressing and he hit and felt good. So we are going to keep adding little bit by little bit and see what he can tolerate throughout the week.”

The Royals could use Pasquantino’s bat and glove just as soon as he’s ready. He’s hitting .262 with 19 home runs and 97 RBIs and has developed into a key piece of KC’s lineup.

The fact that he took batting practice Thursday was a positive sign. And for his part, Pasquantino is certainly hoping to return ahead of schedule.

“In my mind, my season’s not over,” he said shortly after the injury. “Whether that is realistic or not, I don’t know because we have to be smart about it. I have to be healthy enough to do it and I have to be productive.”