Royals' Chris Getz breaks thumb, out for season

The Royals will called up Johnny Giavotella to replace Chris Getz at second base.

By C. Trent Rosecrans

Aug 18, 2012 at 1:54 am ET • 1 min read

Chris Getz's left thumb was broken on a bunt attempt. (Getty Images)

The Royals will finally give Johnny Giavotella a chance to play second base every day after Chris Getz was lost for the season with a broken thumb. Getz was hit on his left thumb attempting to bunt against White Sox starter Chris Getz in the fifth inning of Friday's victory.

Giavotella, 25, is hitting .323/.404/.472 with 10 home runs and 71 RBI for Triple-A Omaha. From May 9 to June 10, Giavotella appeared in 21 games for the Royals, hitting .217/.260/.261. In 46 games last season, he hit .247/.273/.376.

Getz, 28, was hitting .275/.312/.360 this season. He will undergo surgery on Saturday morning, he told reporters. Getz had taken over the team's full-time second base gig after Yuniesky Betancourt was designated for assignment on Aug. 5.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Giavotella will get a chance to play regularly.

"He'll play five, six days a week to start with," Yost told MLB.com. "Depending on production and everything else that goes into it."

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