Edinson Volquez may not have known of father’s death before pitching in World Series

Edinson Volquez started Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night just hours after his father died from heart failure in the Dominican Republic.

There are conflicting stories concerning whether Volquez had heard the news before he pitched. Volquez, who played six innings, left Kauffman Stadium without speaking to reporters before the end of the Royals' 5-4 win over the New York Mets in 14 innings.

At one point on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that Volquez had been told of Daniel Volquez's death on the way to the stadium Tuesday afternoon. ESPN is reporting that a family source has confirmed that account.

But Royals Manager Ned Yost said Volquez did not know until his family members met with him privately in Yost's office after the pitcher had left the game. Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Volquez's wife, Roandy, had asked the team not to say anything to her husband about the tragic news.

“It was just, you know, it was sad, a sad situation,” Yost said after the game. “You find out an hour before the game that your starting pitcher's father passed away, and it was hard. But again, you wanted to honor the family's wishes, and they requested, 'Don't tell Eddie. Let him go out and pitch Game 1 of the World Series.'"

Even with the news already circulating on social media, Fox Sports said nothing about it during the broadcast of the game until the network was sure Volquez knew. "Fox Sports is aware of the news about the death of Edinson Volquez’s father but do not plan to report it on broadcast while he is in game," Fox reporter Ken Rosenthal tweeted during the game. "Broadcast generally on in clubhouse. Conflicting reports on whether Volquez knows. We are not taking chance he would find out through us."

“Most guys didn't know. I found out, I think, in the 14th inning,” Royals outfielder Alex Gordon said. “I was standing next to Ned and he told me, he said, 'Let's win this game for Volquez,' and explained what happened. I don't think [Volquez] knew. I don't think most guys knew.”

The situation raises some interesting questions. Should the Royals have told Volquez before his scheduled World Series start (Chris Young was ready to go in case Volquez wasn't)? And if you were in Volquez's place, would you have wanted to know such information right away?