HOUSTON -- Vinnie Pasquantino has a broken right thumb, the Royals announced Friday morning, and is looking at a six- to eight-week timeline for a return.

Pasquantino will have surgery early next week, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said prior to the Royals’ second game during a four-game series in Houston.

“Vinnie’s got a fractured right thumb that will require surgery, which is likely to happen early next week,” Quatraro said. “ … You have to see how it goes when they get in there and execute the surgery.”

With a little over four weeks left in the regular season, that means the Royals have likely lost their first baseman and one of their most important run producers for the final stretch of a tight division race in the American League Central.

“Vinnie’s a great run producer,” Quatraro said. “He’s been in the middle of our order all year, and we don’t want to lose sight of that, but part of the reason he’s producing those runs is because other guys are getting on base for him to produce it. That team concept has to continue. No one person is going to carry the weight of Vinnie on a daily basis, but we have plenty of good other Major League players here to contribute to winning baseball.”

There’s a chance Pasquantino could return for the playoffs, with the Royals currently holding a 5 1/2 game lead in the second Wild Card spot and 1 1/2 games behind the Guardians for first place in the division.

Pasquantino exited in the eighth inning of the Royals’ series opener in Houston on Thursday after reliever Lucas Erceg wildly threw a ball to first to try to get an out with the Royals leading by a run and the Astros threatening.

The inning ended up being disastrous for the Royals in more ways than one after Pasquantino stretched across the inside lane of first base to try to catch the ball. Astros catcher Yainer Diaz ran into Pasquantino’s glove, and Pasquantino immediately fell to the ground in pain.

Erceg also left the game with a trainer and had X-rays done on his right hand where a comebacker hit him. Erceg, who has been good late in games since the Royals acquired him at the July 30 Trade Deadline, bruised his right hand but was listed as day to day on Friday.

“Erceg we are fairly fortunate it’s just a bruise on his hand,” Quatraro said. “A little bit of swelling like you’d expect but nothing broken.”

Erceg said Friday that the hand was feeling better.

“I should be back out there as soon as I am able to, so I am looking forward to that,” Erceg said.

The 26-year-old Pasquantino has slashed .262/.315/.446 with 19 home runs and 97 RBIs as the Royals’ everyday No. 3 hitter, creating a dynamic trio with Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez as the heart of Kansas City’s order.

Those three have carried the offense all season, and now more of the pressure will fall on Witt and Perez.

The Royals recalled utility infielder Nick Loftin from Triple-A Omaha to take Pasquantino’s place on the roster. Loftin had .199 with a home run and 13 RBIs in 55 games this season with the Royals entering Friday.

Nick Pratto and CJ Alexander are also both in Triple-A and can play first base, and the Royals will be able to call up an extra position player on Sunday when rosters expand to 28 players.

Perez has been the Royals’ backup first baseman when he needs a day off catching, and he could move to the infield more as Freddy Fermin has earned more playing time with his offensive performance and is more than capable of handling backstop duties.

Quatraro said they would rotate players at first base, including Perez, Loftin, Garrett Hampson, Adam Frazier and Hunter Renfroe when he’s able to return from the 10-day IL after his right hamstring strain heals.

“Salvy is a big part of what we do behind the plate,” Quatraro said. “Game calling, leadership. You guys have seen him catch here for over a decade. We’re not just going to all of a sudden run and say he has to play first base every day. I don’t think that’s fair to Freddy either. We have a good versatile group of guys who can play different positions, and we’ll match up the best we can every night.”

The Royals will also be active on the waiver wire before Saturday, the final day to add players to the organization and have them be eligible for the postseason roster.