Kansas City, Mo. ? Royals manager Buddy Bell had his tonsils removed Friday and now will await biopsy results on a growth that was detected in the area.

At the recommendation of Dr. Steven Joyce, the Royals’ team physician, surgery was performed just days after the growth was found.

“We just spoke to Dr. Joyce, who’s been in touch with the physician at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale (Ariz.), and the surgery went very well,” said Dayton Moore, the Royals general manager.

“Buddy’s expected to be released on Sunday, and the final result of the biopsy will be Monday or Tuesday.”

Moore said he was unsure how long the procedure had taken.

“I think it was about four hours or so, which is what they expected,” he said.

Bench coach Billy Doran has been named interim manager.

“I think it’s safe to say Billy Doran will be the interim manager for the remainder of the season,” Moore said. “He can’t fly for at least 10 days to two weeks.”

The 55-year-old Bell is a former All-Star third baseman and a member of a prominent baseball family that includes three generations of major leaguers. He was hired May 31, 2005, and is completing his first full season in Kansas City.

“We’re all hopeful for the best for Buddy,” Royals owner David Glass told The Associated Press. “He’s a good man. “We’re all hopeful it’s nothing and he can get on his life.”

The growth was discovered near Bell’s left tonsil earlier this week. The Royals announced Wednesday night in the ninth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels that Bell was taking a medical leave and would seek a second opinion from specialists in Arizona. He managed the entire game, a 3-0 loss, and spoke with reporters afterward.

“I wanted to wait until the end of the season, but I’ve been advised not to do that,” he said then.

The past year has not been an easy one for the Bell family. His nephew, Marine Lance Cpl. Tim Bell Jr. was killed by a roadside bomb last August in Iraq.

In addition, the team has struggled. They need five wins to avoid their third straight 100-loss season and their fourth in five years.

Since Moore was hired as vice president for baseball operations earlier this year, he and Bell have formed a close working relationship. Bell has one more year left on his contract and is expected to be retained.

Moore indicated in an interview two weeks ago that he was happy with Bell, although he had not made a final decision.

“Buddy Bell and I have a very respectful relationship,” Moore told the AP. “I am very encouraged by Buddy’s willingness to embrace the changes we’ve made thus far. He has embraced them. I think he feels good about the direction. The players like Buddy. They like playing for him and they play hard for him.”