Graffanino out

Associated Press

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Kansas City second baseman Tony Graffanino will miss at least seven exhibition games with a sprained left ankle but could still be available for opening day, the team said Friday.

Graffanino hurt himself fielding a routine ball against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. He stayed in the game and said afterward that he felt fine, but his ankle swelled up that night and he has not played since then.

An MRI exam Thursday revealed a Grade 2 sprain, trainer Nick Swartz said.

Graffanino missed the Royals' final 60 games last season after tearing a ligament in his left knee and having surgery on the rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He also missed 22 games earlier in the season with torn cartilage in his left knee, and his 2002 season with the Chicago White Sox ended early when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

He had appeared in only six exhibition games this spring as he worked to strengthen his shoulder.

If Graffanino is not available on opening day, 22-year-old Ruben Gotay -- who had been scheduled to start the season at Triple-A Omaha but has been hitting well in spring training -- is likely to get the nod.

Graffanino will spend the next seven days in treatment and training, Swartz said.

''It will be strictly what he can do to prepare himself for the possibility of playing in a game,'' Swartz said.

The Royals open April 4 at Detroit.

Through Friday, Gotay was hitting .415 with a 10-game hitting streak. He was 1-for-3 in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.