Royals make rookie Raul Mondesi a late roster addition

For the second straight year, the postseason could become the grand stage for a new member of the Royals.

In this case, with shortstop Raul A. Mondesi added to the team's World Series roster on Tuesday morning, the team could make history.

Never has a player made his major league debut in the World Series.

"If I've got a chance, I've just got to do my work to give all I've got," Mondesi said before Game 1 at Kauffman Stadium.

In the Royals' run to the 2014 World Series, lefthanded pitcher Brandon Finnegan got his first major-league victory in the playoffs, in the Division Series against the Angels. He later became the first player to appear in the College World Series and World Series in the same year.

Mondesi never has played above Class AA. He hit .243 for Northwest Arkansas this season with six home runs and 19 stolen bases.

His spot on the roster came at the expense of Terrance Gore, the base-running specialist. Gore had been on the Royals' postseason roster in every series this year and last, appearing in eight games as a pinch runner with four stolen bases and two runs scored.

The flexibility could play a larger role when the series shifts for New York for Game 3, 4 and 5 without the designated hitter. The Royals haven't used a pinch-hitter in the postseason, but pitchers will hit in the National League park.

"[Yost] said I've got to be ready maybe as a pinch-runner or hitter or defense," Mondesi said. "If I got a chance, I'm going to be in the game. So I'm ready for that."