Chris Getz
Christopher Ryan Getz 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
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, where he was a three-time All-Michigan selection in baseball and holds the South career records for batting average, 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 of the 2002 [Major League Baseball draft|2002 MLB draft] by the Chicago White Sox, but opted to play baseball at Wake Forest University where his father had attended college.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 and. Getz also was a player in the Cape Cod Baseball League, 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.
Professional career
Chicago White Sox
Getz was again selected by the White Sox in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB draft. In 2005, he played six games for the Great Falls White Sox, the Sox rookie league affiliate, batting.333 with 4 RBI. 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. In, Getz played in 130 games for the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and hit.256 with two home runs and 36 RBI. Limited by injury, Getz played in just 72 games for Birmingham during the season, batting.299 with three home runs and 29 RBI.In 2008, Getz was named to the All-Star Futures Game, then was called up to the White Sox on August 10,. 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. The next day, he had his first Major League start, replacing Alexei Ramírez at second base. He went 1-for-3 with a single.
With Ramirez moving over to shortstop for the season, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén announced Getz had won the starting role at second base out of spring training. In 2009, Getz ranked tied for first among AL rookies in multi-hit games and 92.6 stolen base percentage led the league. After the season, he was named 2009 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster.