Former Chicago Cubs second baseman Starlin Castro spent the first six years of his big league career in the Windy City, but after a recent trade sent him to the New York Yankees, he took the time to pen a heartfelt letter to fans.
That piece, which was published on Wednesday in The Players Tribune, features Castro reminiscing about his first career big-league game, about his transition from shortstop to second base last season, and also a discussion about some of his favorites teammates.
Above all else, Castro made sure to thank fans:
“The Cubs fans were always so good to me, and I will never be able to thank them enough. When I got to Chicago, I was just a kid, trying to figure things out at a new job in a new city. When you’re new, you want to be approved of, and you want to belong. Those first big cheers I got at Wrigley are something that I will never forget. They helped me feel like I was doing something right -- and they helped me feel like I was home.”
Castro also made it a point to thank Alfonso Soriano, who was with Castro in Chicago during his early seasons with the Cubs:
“The veteran player who helped me the most, without question, was Alfonso Soriano. We had a connection from the start because we are both Dominican -- but even beyond our roots, Alfonso is the guy who taught me how to act like a professional.”
The Cubs and Yankees are not scheduled to play one another in the 2016 season, but Castro did have a message for Cubs fans looking for a visit from the star second baseman.
Chicago Baseball
“How’s October?” he asked.