![]() In the years that had passed since that first time I walked out onto the field at Wrigley, my admiration for the city of Chicago, and everything about this place, had only continued to grow. When I became a free agent 5 ½ years later, that was the first time I genuinely felt like I could decide for myself where I wanted to be. Over the course of just a few hours, Chicago had made its mark on me. How could I, right? But I can tell you for certain that I felt something extremely special that day. ![]() This is where I get to go to work today.Īnd look, it’s not like I knew on that afternoon that I was going to be a Cub at some point in the future. This is where I’m about to go play baseball right now. It was like, Maaaaaan, look at this place. And walking out onto that field, no lie … it actually felt like I was floating. I felt this kinship with all the people who’d stood in that spot before - Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, on and on. Low ceilings weren’t a big issue, you know what I mean?)Īfter I made it to the dugout, looking out and seeing that field from the perspective of a player? As a major leaguer? Nothing could’ve been better. (There weren’t a ton of dudes my size back in the day. But even with that, it was like, Hey … alright! That’s cool!!! This place has been around for a while. I remember I almost zoned out and banged my head that first time. I’m six-five, and that ceiling, I mean … it’s just really, really low. Then, right before I reached the dugout it actually got a little dicey for me. But that walk is still more special to me than any walk out to any field ever.Ĭoming down those steps, the super-narrow hallway, making four or five turns at different angles, with that ballpark smell getting stronger and stronger - the mix of grass, dirt, hot dogs, beer and popcorn all rolled into one - I had butterflies the entire time. I mean, you want to talk about a crazy hallway? It’s like a maze, really. I’ll never forget that first walk from the clubhouse out to the field. Once I got through those turnstiles, that popcorn smell hit me hard, and then, from there, you’re just looking at baseball history every direction you turn. I loved everything about it.Īnd then, the next day, when it came time to head over to the field….įrom the second I got out of the cab it was like I was in the middle of a dream. (Shout-out to Eric Hinske and Brian McCann for absolutely demolishing those carrot cake slices!) So I got a taste for the city and its whole vibe before I even made it over to the ballpark. I remember after our plane landed, we dropped off our bags and the first thing we did was hit up Gibson’s as a team for some steaks. So, for me, that initial trip to Wrigley as a major league ballplayer was like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time or something. I knew all about Wrigley back then - the ivy, that giant scoreboard in centerfield, I loved all of that. I had pictures of my favorite stadiums hanging on my wall. As a kid, my room was filled with team banners and pennants. Just to set the stage a bit, you have to understand … I’m a baseball head. This was when I was with the Braves in 2010, my rookie year, and I can still, to this day, remember a ton of details from that trip. The first time I came to Chicago, I was 20 years old. But to be honest with you, it goes way deeper than that for me. When the rain started falling and we turned things around and got it done at the end of Game 7. I definitely felt that way when we all broke the curse together in 2016. Rain or shine, four hits or four K’s, I always felt like I was doing what I was meant to do … in the exact city where I was meant to do it. ![]() And even during the times when I was struggling, or wasn’t playing my best, there was never a bad day for me at Wrigley. The history and tradition of this franchise, the passion of our fans, that stuff always mattered to me. Playing ball for the Cubs, doing what I love at Wrigley Field, it really was a dream job for me. It’s been seven amazing years for me in Chicago, so there’s a ton I want to say here - and I’ll do my best to get to all that - but it’s important for me to begin this thing by just being direct and making it clear how fortunate I feel to have gotten this opportunity. More than anything, I just want everyone to know that showing up for work each day as a Chicago Cub and playing at that ballpark in front of everyone in Wrigleyville … that was one of the all-time great honors of my life. Right here at the top, before I really dig in, there’s something important I want to say to all the Cubs fans out there.
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