Royals announce World Series roster, carry Raul Mondesi, drop Terrance Gore

The Kansas City Royals announced their World Series roster today, and there is a surprising addition.

Here's World Series Roster pic.twitter.com/QHlnMv84oG

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) October 27, 2015

The team will carry 20-year old top prospect Raul Mondesi and leave off speedster Terrance Gore. The team is concerned that second baseman Ben Zobrist may have to leave during the series to be with his wife who is expecting to give birth any day now and was said to have had Braxton Hicks contractions during the ALCS. Mondesi gives the Royals a slick-fielding middle infielder to backup Christian Colon, who would likely start in Zobrist's absence.

Raul Mondesi has never appeared in a big league game before and could become the first player ever to make his Major League debut in the World Series. Mark Kiger made his Major League debut in the ALCS back in 2006 for the Athletics. The switch-hitting Mondesi brings speed to the table, although not as much as Gore did. He is considered the best prospect in the organization, and he hit .243/.279/.372 with 6 HR 33 RBI in 81 games for Northwest Arkansas.

Anyone in the organization as of August 31 is eligible to be on the post-season roster, and the roster can change between rounds. Once the series starts, a player can be replaced due to injury, but cannot be replaced for bereavement or family issues.

To add Raul Mondesi on the 40-man roster, the team released pitcher Joba Chamberlain.