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Chris Getz

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Chris Getz
Getz with the Kansas City Royals
Chicago White Sox
General manager / second baseman
Born: (1983-08-30) August 30, 1983 (age 41)
Southfield, Michigan, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 12, 2008, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
May 10, 2014, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
Batting average.250
Home runs3
Runs batted in111
Teams
As player
As general manager

Christopher Ryan Getz (born August 30, 1983) is an American professional baseball executive and former player. A second baseman, Getz played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays from 2008 to 2014. Getz currently serves as the vice president and general manager for the White Sox.

Early life

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Getz was born in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, Michigan, and was raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan by Art and Betsy Getz. He attended Grosse Pointe South High School ('South'), where he was a three-time All-Michigan selection in baseball and holds the South career records for batting average (.465), doubles, stolen bases, walks, and saves. Getz was a member of South's State Championship baseball team during his junior year. He shared the title of "Michigan's Mr. Baseball" in 2002 and also lettered in football and golf. Getz was drafted in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2002 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox,[1] but opted to play baseball at Wake Forest University where his father had attended college.[2]

Getz transferred to the University of Michigan to play baseball after just one season. He holds the single season Big Ten records for at bats, hits, and was an All Big Ten Selection in 2004 and 2005. Getz also was a player in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), a premier collegiate summer baseball league for major league prospects. In 2003 and 2004, Getz played for the CCBL's Chatham A's, now known as the Chatham Anglers, and was named a league all-star in 2004.[3][4][5][6][7]

Professional career

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Chicago White Sox

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Chris Getz with the Chicago White Sox in 2009

Getz was again selected by the White Sox in the fourth round (125th overall) of the 2005 MLB draft.[8] In 2005, he played six games for the Great Falls White Sox, the Sox rookie league affiliate, batting .333 with 4 RBI.[9] He was later promoted to the Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators, where he played in 55 games and batted .307 with a home run and 28 RBI.[9] In 2006, Getz played in 130 games for the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and hit .256 with two home runs and 36 RBI.[9] Limited by injury, Getz played in just 72 games for Birmingham during the 2007 season, batting .299 with three home runs and 29 RBI.[9]

In 2008, Getz was named to the All-Star Futures Game,[10] then was called up to the White Sox on August 10, 2008.[11] He made his major league debut against the Kansas City Royals on August 12, where he recorded his first hit and RBI off Royals pitcher Josh Newman in his one and only at-bat during the eighth inning.[12] The next day, he had his first Major League start, replacing Alexei Ramírez at second base. He went 1-for-3 with a single.[13]

With Ramirez moving over to shortstop for the 2009 season, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén announced Getz had won the starting role at second base out of spring training.[14] In 2009, Getz ranked tied for first among AL rookies in multi-hit games (28) and 92.6 stolen base percentage (25-for-27) led the league. After the season, he was named 2009 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster.[15]

Kansas City Royals

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Getz was traded to the Kansas City Royals on November 6, 2009, along with Josh Fields for Mark Teahen.[16] His career with the Royals was riddled with injuries. He played only 72 games during the 2010 season due first to a strained oblique muscle, and then later due to a concussion after being hit in the head with a baseball.[17] In those games, Getz batted .255 with 18 RBI and 15 stolen bases.[18] He fared somewhat better in 2011, appearing in 118 games and posting a .255 batting average, 26 RBI and 21 stolen bases.[18] During the 2012 season, Getz made three separate trips to the disabled list, first in May with a bruised ribcage, then in June with a lateral strain of the left leg, and finally in August with a broken left thumb. The last injury required surgery, ending his season.[17] Despite the injury history, the Royals signed Getz to a one-year contract on November 30, 2012. The base contract for 2013 was for $1.05 million, with additional performance bonuses totalling $150,000.[17] Getz was optioned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers in June 2013 after starting the season batting .214 with a home run and 12 RBI. Jarrod Dyson was called down up to replace him.[19] Getz was later recalled on July 18.[20] The Royals did not tender him a contract for 2014 and he became a free agent on December 2, 2013.[21]

Toronto Blue Jays

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On January 16, 2014, Getz signed a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[22] He was sent to minor league camp on March 24, 2014.[23] Getz started the 2014 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He was brought up to Toronto on April 29,[24] and designated for assignment on May 11.[25] Getz cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo on May 13, 2014.[26] On May 16, 2014, Getz announced his retirement from baseball.[27] He batted .160 in 10 games played for the Blue Jays in 2014.[18]

Executive career

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In 2014, Getz was hired by the Kansas City Royals as their assistant to player development. He worked with them until 2016 when he went to the Chicago White Sox as their director of player development from 2017 to 2020. There, he worked with many talented prospects like Luis Robert Jr., Yoán Moncada, Eloy Jiménez, Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito, and Dylan Cease. The White Sox farm system was ranked as the best in the MLB in 2017. In 2021, White Sox promoted him as assistant General Manager to then-GM Rick Hahn. Following Hahn's firing on August 22, 2023, Getz was promoted as the White Sox new Senior Vice President and GM on August 31.[28][29]

Personal life

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His wife, Nicole "Nicky" Getz, was a contestant on The Amazing Race 23, where she was teamed up with David DeJesus's wife, Kim.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "6th Round of the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Q&A with Former Wolverine Chris Getz". Michigan Wolverines. August 31, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Chatham A's beat up on Wareham". Cape Cod Times. July 11, 2004. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  4. ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). Cape Cod Baseball League. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "2003 Chatham As". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "2004 Chatham As". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "East All-Star Roster: All-Star Game 2004". Cape Cod Baseball League. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  8. ^ "4th Round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d "Chris Getz Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Sheehan, Joe (July 14, 2008). "BP: Futures Game offers glimpse of stars, moments to come". Sports Illustrated. CNN. Archived from the original on July 17, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  11. ^ "International League News and Notes". OurSports Central. August 14, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  12. ^ "Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox Box Score, August 12, 2008". Baseball-Reference.com. August 12, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  13. ^ "Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox Box Score, August 13, 2008". Baseball-Reference.com. August 13, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  14. ^ "Guillen endorses Getz for 2B job". ESPN. Associated Press. March 22, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  15. ^ "Topps names Chris Getz to 2009 Major League Rookie All-Star Team". Kansas City Royals. MLB.com. November 25, 2009. Archived from the original on August 7, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  16. ^ "Royals acquire Chris Getz and Josh Fields from White Sox for Mark Teahen and cash considerations". Kansas City Royals. MLB.com. November 6, 2009. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  17. ^ a b c Kaegel, Dick (November 30, 2012). "Getz returns to Royals with one year deal". Kansas City Royals. MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  18. ^ a b c "Chris Getz Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  19. ^ "Royals activate OF Dyson, send Getz down". ESPN. Associated Press. June 22, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Kaegel, Dick (July 18, 2013). "Getz, Herrera set to return to Royals". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  21. ^ Kaegel, Dick (December 2, 2013). "Getz enters free agency after being non-tendered". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  22. ^ Todd, Jeff (January 16, 2014). "Blue Jays Sign Chris Getz". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  23. ^ "Blue Jays option Anthony Gose to Herd". Buffalo Bisons. March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  24. ^ "Blue Jays promote Getz from Bisons". Buffalo Bisons. April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  25. ^ "Blue Jays activate Janssen, cut Getz". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. May 11, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  26. ^ Todd, Jeff (May 13, 2014). "Minor Moves: Kottaras, Getz, Greene". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  27. ^ Cotillo, Chris (May 16, 2014). "Chris Getz retires from baseball". MLB Daily Dish. SB Nation. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  28. ^ "Who is Chris Getz? What to know about 'lead candidate' for White Sox' head of baseball operations?". Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  29. ^ "White Sox promote Chris Getz to general manager role". Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  30. ^ Kaegel, Dick (August 28, 2013). "Getz's wife travels world on 'The Amazing Race'". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
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