The Kansas City Royals said Friday second baseman Johnny Giavotella had arthroscopic surgery Thursday to correct a cartilage tear in his right hip.

Recovery time is typically 10-12 weeks and Giavotella is expected to be available for the start of spring training in February.

Giavotella hit .338 in 110 games for the Omaha Storm Chasers before being called up in August. In 46 games with Kansas City, he hit .247.

The Royals also said right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez was claimed on outright waivers by Toronto after he was designated for assignment by the Royals on October 11th.

KANSAS CITY, MO (September 27, 2011) – The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for first baseman Kila Ka’aihue. Hollingsworth was assigned to the Omaha (AAA) Storm Chasers roster.

The 24-year-old Hollingsworth spent a majority of the 2011 season with Midland (AA) in the Texas League, compiling a 6-5 record with a 3.61 ERA in 17 appearances, including 16 starts. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder also made a pair of late season starts with Triple-A Sacramento and one relief appearance in the Pacific Coast League playoffs. Born and raised in Joliet, Ill., Hollingsworth, whose first name is Phillip but goes by his middle name Ethan, was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the 2008 Draft out of Western Michigan University. He was traded to Oakland for pitcher Clayton Mortensen on January 24, 2011.

Ka’aihue, 27, opened the season as the Royals starting first baseman and hit .195 (16-for-82) with two home runs in 23 games before being optioned to Omaha (AAA). He spent the remainder of the season with the Storm Chasers and was designated for assignment by the Royals on September 21.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals promoted Mike Moustakas from Triple-A Omaha on Friday and inserted the prized prospect into their starting lineup against the Los Angeles Angels.

Kansas City optioned infielder Mike Aviles to its Pacific Coast League club and designated right-hander Kevin Pucetas for assignment to make room for Moustakas, who was at third base and batting sixth for his major league debut.

Moustakas was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft behind Tampa Bay Rays All-Star left-hander David Price. The 22-year-old Los Angeles native batted .287 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs in 55 games this season for the Storm Chasers.

“I’m just soaking it all up and enjoying everything,” said Moustakas, who was drafted out of Chatsworth High School in the San Fernando Valley.

“It’s good to be back home. This is what I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid. I drove from Omaha to Kansas City last night, got on a flight this morning and I’m ready to play right now. I had to go through Salt Lake, but once I got through there and landed in California, it was awesome. This couldn’t have worked out any better. I’m about to live the dream right now.”

After getting the good news — and a hug — from Omaha manager Mike Jirschele, the first thing Moustakas did was call his parents.

“It was a real special moment,” Moustakas said in the Royals’ dugout. “I said: ‘I’m coming home, Dad.’ He said: ‘What do you mean?’ I told him: ‘Kansas City’s going to Anaheim and I’m meeting the team there.’ He just started laughing and told me how proud he was of me.”

Moustakas was reunited with 21-year-old first baseman Eric Hosmer, another left-handed hitter who was selected third overall in the 2008 draft — two spots ahead of San Francisco catcher Buster Posey. Entering play on Friday, Hosmer was batting .309 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 32 games following his promotion on May 6, and was 18 for 46 during the team’s 4-7 homestand with 10 RBIs.

“It was never a race between me and Eric,” Moustakas said. “The only race that we have right now is when we’re going to win get to the playoffs and win the World Series and start bringing championships home to Kansas City. That’s the only race we’re concerned about. That’s how the Royals brought us up in this organization.”

All six of the Royals’ first-round draft picks from 2004 through 2009 are now on the 25-man roster — Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, Luke Hochevar, Moustakas, Hosmer and Aaron Crow.

“It’s amazing what the guys that have been scouting for this organization for so long have done to get the farm system to where it’s at right now,” Moustakas said. “Hopefully, pretty soon we’ll start seeing some benefits and reaping the rewards of this.”

Moustakas was drafted as a shortstop, then converted to third base with some extra tutoring from former Royals third baseman Joe Randa and Hall of Famer George Brett.

“This is one of the best organizations to grow up in in the minor leagues,” Moustakas said. “Joe Randa has been out there with me and George has come out there every now and then to help me out. So just to be able to learn all that stuff from those guys that have played that position for so long has been real helpful.”

Moustakas played at Angel Stadium last July in the All-Star Futures game. He hit a combined 36 homers last year with Omaha (15) and Double-A NW Arkansas (21). No regular Royals third baseman has hit more than 18 home runs in a season since 1998, when Dean Palmer had 34.

Aviles, in his fourth big league season, batted .213 with five homers and 30 RBIs in 47 games.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Kansas City Royals promoted Mike Moustakas from Triple-A Omaha on Friday and inserted the prized prospect into their starting lineup against the Los Angeles Angels.

Kansas City optioned infielder Mike Aviles to its Pacific Coast League club and designated right-hander Kevin Pucetas for assignment to make room for Moustakas, who was at third base and batting sixth for his major league debut.

Moustakas was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft behind Tampa Bay Rays All-Star left-hander David Price. The 22-year-old Los Angeles native batted .287 with 10 homers and 44 RBI in 55 games this season for the Storm Chasers.

“I’m just soaking it all up and enjoying everything,” said Moustakas, who was drafted out of Chatsworth High School in the San Fernando Valley.

“It’s good to be back home. This is what I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid. I drove from Omaha to Kansas City last night, got on a flight this morning and I’m ready to play right now. I had to go through Salt Lake, but once I got through there and landed in California, it was awesome. This couldn’t have worked out any better. I’m about to live the dream right now.”

After getting the good news – and a hug – from Omaha manager Mike Jirschele, the first thing Moustakas did was call his parents.

“It was a real special moment,” Moustakas said in the Royals’ dugout. “I said: `I’m coming home, Dad.’ He said: `What do you mean?’ I told him: `Kansas City’s going to Anaheim and I’m meeting the team there.’ He just started laughing and told me how proud he was of me.”

Moustakas was reunited with 21-year-old first baseman Eric Hosmer, another left-handed hitter who was selected third overall in the 2008 draft — two spots ahead of San Francisco catcher Buster Posey. Entering play on Friday, Hosmer was batting .309 with five homers and 20 RBI in 32 games following his promotion on May 6, and was 18 for 46 during the team’s 4-7 homestand with 10 RBI.

“It was never a race between me and Eric,” Moustakas said. “The only race that we have right now is when we’re going to win get to the playoffs and win the World Series and start bringing championships home to Kansas City. That’s the only race we’re concerned about. That’s how the Royals brought us up in this organization.”

All six of the Royals’ first-round draft picks from 2004 through 2009 are now on the 25-man roster — Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, Luke Hochevar, Moustakas, Hosmer and Aaron Crow.

“It’s amazing what the guys that have been scouting for this organization for so long have done to get the farm system to where it’s at right now,” Moustakas said. “Hopefully, pretty soon we’ll start seeing some benefits and reaping the rewards of this.”

Moustakas was drafted as a shortstop, then converted to third base with some extra tutoring from former Royals third baseman Joe Randa and Hall of Famer George Brett.

“This is one of the best organizations to grow up in in the minor leagues,” Moustakas said. “Joe Randa has been out there with me and George has come out there every now and then to help me out. So just to be able to learn all that stuff from those guys that have played that position for so long has been real helpful.”

Moustakas played at Angel Stadium last July in the All-Star Futures game. He hit a combined 36 homers last year with Omaha (15) and Double-A NW Arkansas (21). No regular Royals third baseman has hit more than 18 home runs in a season since 1998, when Dean Palmer had 34.

Aviles, in his fourth big league season, batted .213 with five homers and 30 RBI in 47 games.

May 5, 2011 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) Omaha Storm Chasers
OMAHA, Neb. – Top prospect Eric Hosmer will join the Kansas City Royals in time for Friday’s game against the Oakland Athletics, the Major League club announced Thursday. Kila Ka’aihue will be optioned to Triple-A Omaha, while catcher Jason Kendall will be transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Hosmer on the 40-man roster.

Hosmer, a 21-year-old first baseman, batted .439 (43-for-98) in 26 games for the Storm Chasers and was leading the Pacific Coast League in batting average, hits and on-base percentage at the time of his departure. The slugging first baseman was riding an eight-game hitting streak in which he was batting .613 (19-for-31) with two homers, six RBI and eight walks. His .613 batting average and .692 on-base percentage led all of professional baseball during that span.

The No. 3 pick of the 2008 first-year player draft, Hosmer is the first high school player from his class to reach the big-leagues. The left-handed swinger is expected to make his Major League debut against Gio Gonzalez of the Oakland Athletics, one of the toughest southpaws in the American League. During his time in Omaha, Hosmer batted .500 (16-for-32) with all three of his home runs against lefties.

Ka’aihue was batting .195 (16-for-82) with two home runs in 23 games this season for the Royals. He has a .285 batting average with 52 home runs in parts of three seasons in Omaha.

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