Raul A. Mondesi has never played a game above Double-A, but there's a good chance he'll make his major league debut on the biggest stage.
The Royals included their top prospect on the 25-man World Series roster submitted Tuesday morning. If the 20-year-old gets into a game, he would be the first player to make his MLB debut in the World Series, according to Stats LLC.
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Kansas City opted for Mondesi over speedster Terrance Gore, who was with the team throughout its run to the World Series last season. But Jarrod Dyson can fill Gore's pinch-runner/backup outfielder role while Mondesi, a middle infielder, gives Ned Yost some more defensive flexibility.
Still, it's quite a jump for the son and namesake of the longtime big-league outfielder, who has a career .658 OPS in the minors and hit .243/.279/.372 with Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season.
The last man on the Mets' World Series roster is at the other end of the experience spectrum. Fifteen-year veteran Juan Uribe made the cut over Matt Reynolds, a nod to the well-traveled infielder's potential impact off the bench. In 102 career pinch-hit appearances, Uribe has an .823 OPS and three home runs. The 36-year-old has plenty of postseason savvy, not to mention World Series rings from the White Sox in 2005 and the Giants in 2010.
That move means Kelly Johnson likely will serve as Wilmer Flores' backup at shortstop, though the Mets could make a move to add Reynolds to the roster mid-series if Flores were to suffer a significant injury.
