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CLEVELAND (AP) — Kansas City Royals first base coach Rusty Kuntz had surgery on his broken left arm, an injury he sustained when he was hit by a line drive during pregame batting practice.
Kuntz had a plate and eight screws inserted during the operation Wednesday at the Cleveland Clinic, Royals manager Ned Yost said.
The 59-year-old Kuntz will spend the night in the hospital, but is expected to travel with team on Thursday to Baltimore. The Royals open a three-game series with the Orioles on Friday.
Yost said Kuntz had just picked up a heavy ball bag when he got hit.
"He's going to be fine," Yost said. "It could have been worse. It could have hit him in the head. That was screaming. You want those things to typically hit you in the butt."
Kuntz was able to poke fun at himself afterward, saying it was the first time he had broken a bone.
"Riding bikes and falling off and jungle gyms and climbing bars my whole life, and now I'm hurt," he said.
He was replaced for the past two games at first by coach Mike Jirschele, who is expected to fill in while Kuntz recovers.
Kuntz is in the third year of his second stint with the Royals. He played in the majors for the White Sox, Twins and Tigers.
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