Edinson Volquez reflects on World Series triumph, loss of father: 'You always feel it'

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Edinson Volquez deleted his late father’s cell number from his phone, because it was too painful to stumble upon it and realize he could no longer call him. The memory of Daniel Volquez and the impact he had on his son’s life, of course, remain indelible.

Volquez’s tale of tragedy and triumph made for a poignant story in last year’s World Series, won by the Kansas City Royals over the New York Mets with the help of two strong starts by the well-traveled veteran of 11 seasons.

Although he didn’t get the decision in either of his outings, Volquez kept the Royals in both games, both ending in Royals triumphs in extra innings.

Kansas City took Game 1 in 14 innings on the day his father died of heart disease in the Dominican Republic, and came from behind to claim the championship in 12 innings in Game 5, the night after a grieving Volquez rejoined the team.

In the solitude of a near-empty Royals’ spring-training clubhouse Monday afternoon, Volquez recalled in an extended Spanish-language conversation how the pinnacle of his career coincided with his personal anguish, all while millions of baseball followers across the globe watched intently.

Naturally jovial, Volquez was reflective but not morose, having made his peace with his dad’s passing at 63.

“You always feel it, especially around the holidays, when he was always with us,’’ said Volquez, 32. “That never goes away and you’ll never forget him, but you have to learn how to deal with it and live your life knowing you don’t have him. The main thing is to feel like he’s always with you, that he hasn’t left.’’

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Volquez spent the offseason back home in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, where his mother still struggled with the loss. He would get up some mornings and want to call his dad, then realize he’s no longer around, but found solace in the company of his wife, Roandry, and their twin daughters, Eylin and Aylin, who are 2 years old.

It was Roandry, team officials said, who told them not to inform Volquez about his father’s death after she got word hours before Game 1. There are varying reports as to whether Volquez already knew, but regardless, he pitched three-run ball over six innings and left the ballpark after meeting with general manager Dayton Moore once he was pulled from the game.

Just the day before, father and son had talked about his start. Edinson, the youngest of four children and the only boy, shared a tight bond with his dad forged through baseball, dominoes and day-long family trips to the beach.

There was no indication Volquez would become the third Royals player to lose a parent late in the season. Third baseman Mike Moustakas’ mother, Connie, died of cancer on Aug. 9. Seven weeks later, pitcher Chris Young’s father, Charles, also passed away.

Daniel Volquez, a mechanic, had undergone hernia surgery about a week before the World Series but sounded healthy when he and Edinson last spoke the night before Game 1.

“He told me he was fine, looking forward to watching the game,’’ Volquez said. “He was very happy and proud that I was going to pitch that game. It was a dream come true.’’

Volquez wasn’t certain whether he would be able to return from the burial in time for his Game 5 start at New York’s Citi Field, but his mother, Ana, told him at the funeral home that his dad would have wanted him to pitch. So he enlisted a friend to play catch and called pitching coach Dave Eiland, telling him he would be ready.

The scene before the game remains etched in Volquez’s mind. Walking out to the bullpen behind the outfield fence, Volquez said he heard Mets fans yelling in Spanish and he laughed at their comments. But once the national anthem was played, he entered into a trance-like state of concentration and delivered one of the most courageous performances in World Series history.

“When I was pitching, I was calm. I was more hyped up in the Toronto (playoff) game,’’ Volquez said. “In the Mets game, I was so focused that all I saw was the catcher and home plate. I wanted to keep pitching and never leave the game. I could have pitched 20 innings without getting tired.’’

The Royals happily settled for six, in which Volquez allowed two hits and two runs, one of them unearned. He left trailing 2-0 but, as was their wont throughout the series, the Royals overcame the deficit and pulled out the victory to claim their first championship in 30 years.

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Catcher Salvador Perez was named the series MVP. If there had been an award for inspiration, Volquez would have been the unanimous winner. At a time when he and his family were mourning, he found a way to come through for his team.

In fact, even though he had been out of the game for a couple of innings, Volquez said he didn’t snap out of his absorption until Eric Hosmer’s daring dash for the plate tied it in the ninth.

“I had been so focused on the game that I didn’t know what was happening around me,’’ Volquez said. “Plus, I was trying not to think about my dad, and I didn’t want to show my teammates that I was hurting. I wanted them to be feel free to be happy.’’

Three innings later, they erupted in jubilation.

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