Potential Ben Zobrist paternity leave could force Royals to play short a man

The Royals could be forced to play with just 24 players if Ben Zobrist leaves the team to be with his wife should she give birth.

The Royals could be forced to play with just 24 players if second baseman Ben Zobrist leaves the team to be with his wife if she gives birth, according to the Kansas City Star.

Zobrist’s wife, Julianna, is due to give birth on Nov. 10, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Zobrist said he wouldn’t leave the game if his wife went into labor unless “something dangerous” happened to her, according to Rosenthal. 

“She said if I'm playing and everything is fine, she's probably not going to let me know until after the game,” Zobrist added.

Unlike in the regular season, teams cannot place players on paternity leave and replace them on the roster in the playoffs. Royals manager Ned Yost said he did not take Zobrist’s potential absence into account when constructing the World Series roster, though he dropped outfielder Terrance Gore in favor of middle infielder Raul Mondesi. Mondesi, 20, has never appeared in a major-league game. 

- Dan Gartland