World Series 2015: Volquez says he learned of father's death after start; teammates say otherwise

Tom Gatto

World Series 2015: Volquez says he learned of father's death after start; teammates say otherwise image

The question had lingered for the better part of a day: Did Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez pitch Game 1 of the World Series knowing his father had died hours earlier? On Wednesday, Volquez gave us his answer: No.

"My wife was waiting for me with the general manager (Dayton Moore) and they told me what had happened after I finished working," he told The Associated Press. "I want to thank my teammates for all their support, to (Johnny) Cueto and Yordano (Ventura), who were the first ones to call me."

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ESPN, citing an unnamed family source, reported that Volquez was told before he arrived at Kauffman Stadium for his start against the Mets that his father, Daniel, had died in the Dominican Republic. The Royals initially refused to acknowledge even that Volquez's father was dead.

Fox, which broadcast the game, waited until after Volquez had finished pitching to report the news, at the request of Volquez's wife, who reportedly didn't want Volquez to find out during the game.

Prior to Game 2 on Wednesday, Royals catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar said Volquez told them the news before Game 1. 

Volquez is in the Dominican for his father's funeral. He will rejoin the team during the weekend. Royals manager Ned Yost said Wednesday he expects Volquez to pitch in Game 5 (if necessary) on Sunday in New York. Volquez wasn't as confident, telling the AP, "I don't know if I'll be ready for that appearance."

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.