The season-ending injury to Kansas City Royals second baseman Chris Getz has created an opportunity for Johnny Giavotella, MLB.com's Vinnie Duber reports. Royals manager Ned Yost told Duber that Giavotella will play up to six games per week.
In five minor league seasons, Giavotella has hit .308/.380/.443 in almost 2,400 plate appearances. That success has yet to translate to the big-league level, as he is just a .235/.265/.339 hitter in limited playing time across two seasons. However, Yost, who spoke with Duber prior to Saturday night's game, doesn't think it's anything out of the ordinary:
"I don't care how good you can hit. It's very seldom you come up and show your true potential in a short burst. You're facing the best pitchers in the world, you've never faced them before, you don't know the action on their pitches, you don't know everything. It's a process."
After going 0-for-4 in his return to the Royals on Saturday night, Giavotella singled in four at-bats in Sunday's victory over the Chicago White Sox.
For more on the Royals, be sure to check out Royals Review. For all things MLB, head over to Baseball Nation.