Surprise, Ariz. ? Chris Clapinski received an unwelcome and untimely break from baseball last year.

Clapinski entered the Kansas City Royals’ 2005 spring training as the favorite to win a spot as a utility player. Instead, in the middle of spring training he suffered an elbow injury, which required surgery, and sat out the season.

“It was probably the most difficult summer I had to go through, just going through rehab and sitting and watching everyone play for the first time,” Clapinski said. “Just being away from the game for that amount of time, it really makes you introspect and see what you have in baseball and appreciate it a little bit more.”

Clapinski, who played parts of two seasons with the Florida Marlins, is back with the Royals this spring, trying to win a roster spot. Manager Buddy Bell said Clapinski, Joe McEwing and Esteban German all were competing to be a reserve infielder.

“Clapinski is very similar to Joe,” Bell said. “German has a lot of ability. It is going to be a tough decision that will come down to the end of spring training.”

Note: The Royals’ spring training game with Seattle at Peoria Stadium was rained out Saturday night. The Royals also had a Saturday afternoon game with the Chicago Cubs rained out.

Royals’ DeJesus signs five-year contract

Kansas City, Mo. – The Kansas City Royals completed a five-year deal with outfielder David DeJesus on Saturday, locking up one of the cornerstones of the Royals’ youth movement through 2010. The Royals also have a club option for 2011.

DeJesus, 26, batted .293 in 122 games last year, his first full season in the majors. He finished second on the team in runs with 69 and tied for second in doubles with 31. He committed only four errors playing center field.

K.C. coach’s attacker sentenced to prison

Chicago – The man who attacked Kansas City Royals coach Tom Gamboa during a game has been sentenced to almost five years in prison for a probation violation.

Cook County Court Associate Judge Joseph M. Claps ruled Friday that William Ligue Jr. violated probation when he was charged in April 2004 with breaking into a car in suburban Harvey. Claps increased Ligue’s sentence to 57 months in prison.