diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-post.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-post.php
index 682b000f39..2ce3144a86 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-post.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-post.php
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ final class WP_Post {
 	 * @since 3.5.0
 	 * @var string
 	 */
-	public $post_author = 0;
+	public $post_author = '0';
 
 	/**
 	 * The post's local publication time.
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ final class WP_Post {
 	 * @since 3.5.0
 	 * @var string
 	 */
-	public $comment_count = 0;
+	public $comment_count = '0';
 
 	/**
 	 * Stores the post object's sanitization level.
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index a478349e08..1333c73110 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.8-alpha-59815';
+$wp_version = '6.8-alpha-59816';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.