(Authors
note: I thought it only fitting that Chris Getz be the first athlete I
spotlight here, since I’m using his picture as my wallpaper – Yeah, that’s him
looking at another called strike)
(Chris Getz update: On August 17, 2012, Getz fractured his thumb on a botched bunt, landing him on the DL for the remainder of the season. Don't worry, KC fans, he'll be back next year!).
Every year I make my spring pilgrimage to Arizona to cover MLB Spring Training games for my gig as Orange County High School Sports reporter for Examiner.com. I usually don't make it farther than Surprise Arizona and surprise – That’s where the Kansas City Royals play. And that's where I get to experience the stylings of Royals second baseman, Chris Getz.
Every year I make my spring pilgrimage to Arizona to cover MLB Spring Training games for my gig as Orange County High School Sports reporter for Examiner.com. I usually don't make it farther than Surprise Arizona and surprise – That’s where the Kansas City Royals play. And that's where I get to experience the stylings of Royals second baseman, Chris Getz.
I love
Chris Getz because he’s there every spring – like an old friend. In fact, when
I go to spring training, I tell everyone that I'm going to see Chris Getz.
There's something comforting about consistency.
Sitting in
the stands with a bunch of Royals fans really gives you an education. And one
thing I've learned about Royals fans is they really don't get Getz (I was dying
to say that). I've sat by diehard KC fans who yell things at Getz like –
"Another strikeout Getz. Do what you do!" and "C'mon at least
get a walk!"
But I like
Getz because he's a career .258 hitter who has managed to hang around the bigs
for about five seasons. Getz recently came back from playing down with the KC triple-A
team, Omaha Storm Chasers, after rehabbing from a lateral strain in his lower
leg that came after trying to field a ball against the Cardinals. I believe it
was his way of avoiding the Card's pitching staff.
To be fair,
Getz hasn't had a great season. About 17 days before that injury, he came off
the DL with a bruised rib (from laughing too hard on his way to the bank,
maybe?). But just like a bad penny, the consistent second baseman came back.
That's what makes him so great.
Getz is a
second baseman who throws right, yet bats left (pay attention to this phenomenon,
because it will be an ongoing trend in this blog). A left-handed-hitting second
baseman? Brilliant. This is the kind of stuff that keeps guys going strong in
the Majors and Getz is no dummy.
Background:
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound infielder turns 29 on August 30, 2012. If you look at Getz’s high school and college record, it looks a lot like other baseball prospects – All-Star, All-American, Championship Season, Future's player – everything you'd expect from a kid trying to make the big leagues.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound infielder turns 29 on August 30, 2012. If you look at Getz’s high school and college record, it looks a lot like other baseball prospects – All-Star, All-American, Championship Season, Future's player – everything you'd expect from a kid trying to make the big leagues.
The
Michigan native came up through the White Sox organization and in 2008, they
traded him (with Josh Fields) to KC for Mark Teahen. Who? What? Anyway, that
was when Getz punched his golden ticket. The Royals love this guy and couldn't
wait for him to get back from vacationing in Omaha.
Getz will
make $967,500 this season (why not a full mill, KC?). He's up for first-year
arbitration next season. I'm sure the Royals will happily clump down fewer
dollars to keep him until 2015, when he becomes a free agent (are you
listening, Dodgers?).
To date,
Getz has made approximately $2,226,000. That's what consistency gets you in the Major Leagues. And that's why I will continue to root for Chris Getz!
AB: 1122
Hits: 289
HR: 2
RBI: 88
BB: 86
SO: 137
AVE: .258
