When a rookie is called up to make his major league debut, it’s common practice for his manager to find a low-pressure spot for the youngster to get his first taste of the bigs.
That wasn't the case for Royals rookie Raul A. Mondesi.
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Before Friday night, the 20-year-old middle infielder hadn’t played above Double-A. Ever. But he’s on Kansas City’s World Series roster, and he made his debut in Game 3 in New York against the Mets. Because baseball is like that sometimes.
So who is this guy? Here are five things you need to know, starting with the obvious:
1. He has a famous father
But you already knew this. His dad, who’s also named Raul Mondesi, was the NL Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers in 1994 and made the All-Star team the next year. In his 13-year career, he hit at least 24 home runs nine times and stole at least 22 bases six times. He finished with a career OPS of .815.
Maybe most germane to this discussion: The elder Mondesi never played in the World Series.
2. He provides flexibility
With Games 3, 4 and 5 being played in the Mets’ home park, with NL rules in effect — no DH — the Royals will have to adjust their approach a bit. With the DH, the Royals almost never have to pinch-hit or worry about double-switches because all nine position players are above-average with the bat.
So the Royals could afford the luxury of carrying a one-trick pony like Terrence Gore, who’s basically been a designated base stealer, during the AL playoffs, but the NL rules create a different set of roster expectations.
“Mondesi can do a lot of things; he can play the field really, really well, shortstop, second base,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He's a switch hitter. He can hit a fastball, he can bunt, and he can run. All these situations come into play. It's just more flexibility in a National League game for us right there.”
3. He’s here mostly for his defense
Mondesi has primarily been a shortstop in his minor league career, but he can play second-base, too (18 games this season). And he’s really, really good with the glove.
“The one thing he can do at an elite level right now is play defense,” said Frank Neville, a minor league talent evaluator who contributes for SN. “He has a great glove. He’s a plus defender.”
He hasn’t played third base in pro baseball, and the outfield probably isn’t a good idea. “I never play outfield,” Mondesi said Tuesday, “other than when I was in Little League.”
And there’s a possibility that second baseman Ben Zobrist could have to miss a game. His wife is pregnant and due, according to Yost, “like (Nov. 12) or something like that.”
Christian Colon would get the start if Zobrist has to miss a game, but Mondesi would be there as a backup.
4. He’s a work in progress as a hitter
Let’s tell it how it is: If Mondesi gets more than an at-bat or two in this series — aside from a sacrifice-bunt attempt or two — things have gone slightly crazy for the Royals.
In 81 Double-A games this season, Mondesi hit .243 with a .279 on-base percentage. He struck out 88 times, stole 19 bases and had 22 extra-base hits (11 doubles, five triples, six homers).
“I can’t imagine Kansas City giving him meaningful at-bats in this series,” Neville said. “He’s still a kid. His bat’s still developing. He can catch up to a fastball, but that’s not the only pitch he’s going to see.”
Well, Mondesi's first AB came in the fifth inning of a game his team was trailing 5-3. He struck out as a pinch hitter.
5. The Royals have high hopes
Maybe not for this specific series, of course, but Mondesi is a talent who figures into the team’s future plans. Before the season, he was ranked MLB's No. 27 overall prospect by Baseball Prospectus, No. 28 by Baseball America and No. 40 by MLB.com.
He’s still a bit of an unknown to his teammates right now, though.
“I haven't seen him actually play much,” Lorenzo Cain said before Game 1. “As far as the spring training, I didn't get a chance to play with him in the minor leagues or anything like that. The guy is solid defensively, definitely can swing the bat. From what I've seen, he put on a little weight. He added power to his game. Just overall very talented player.”
