'Great teammate.' Astros reflect on time with Lance McCullers Jr. after trade

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Houston Astros pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Bryan Abreu during the Houston Astros World Series parade downtown on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022 in Houston. (Karen Warren/Staff photographer)


When the Houston Astros arrived at Daikin Park on Friday, it marked the first time in 11 years that pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. was not part of the organization.

"I grew up watching him doing the best thing for the team," reliever Bryan Abreu said Friday, two days after McCullers was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. "So sadly, looking at him leave, you know, it's part of the business and everything. … I am really grateful for everything that he told me."

With McCullers gone, Abreu is now the Astros' longest-tenured pitcher. He made his major league debut with Houston in 2019.

Manager Joe Espada said telling McCullers about the trade was difficult. Espada noted that he has admired the right-hander since facing him in the 2017 World Series while serving on the Los Angeles Dodgers' coaching staff.

Espada praised McCullers' determination through years of injuries and rehabilitation, saying the veteran never stopped working to return to the mound and remained a leader for younger players throughout the process.

One of those players was Houston native and Astros outfielder Brice Matthews.

Matthews grew up attending Astros games and remembers watching McCullers pitch the final four innings of Houston's Game 7 victory over the New York Yankees in the 2017 American League Championship Series, sending the Astros to their second World Series.

Years later, Matthews found himself sharing a clubhouse with one of the pitchers he grew up cheering for - and someone who helped bring his hometown a championship.

"Great teammate, especially for a young guy," Matthews said. "You don't really talk to the pitchers much, but he always went out of his way to say what's up, how you're doing, check in, and any question I had, he was always there to answer."

Espada said McCullers' impact extended far beyond the baseball field.

"Not only what he's done on the baseball field, but off the field too," Espada said. "He's impacted our community, so we're going to miss him, and I wish him the best of luck."

Away from baseball, McCullers and his wife, Kara, founded the Lance McCullers Jr. Foundation in 2016. The organization is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for abused and neglected animals.

Kara McCullers reflected on the trade in an Instagram post.

"The end of an era and the closing of a major chapter in our lives," she wrote. "11 seasons, 2 World Championships, 2 kids and 5 dogs later … and here we are. Houston is all we have ever known in this baseball life since we were teenagers. What a blessing that is to be able to say."

McCullers leaves as one of the defining players of the Astros' championship era. He was the club's longest-tenured pitcher and one of three remaining players from Houston's 2017 World Series championship team. Second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Carlos Correa are now the only players from that team still with the Astros.

McCullers, who made his major league debut with the Astros in 2015, finished his Houston career with 154 appearances, 813⅓ innings, 904 strikeouts, 357 walks, a 53-40 record and a 3.85 ERA.

McCullers, who has battled injuries this season, spoke to reporters for the first time as a member of the Brewers before Friday's game in Milwaukee. He said he is eager to continue his recovery and eventually contribute to the Brewers' rotation.

"I'm excited to be here," McCullers said. "With the new rules, you get to see teams more often. So, I've played (the Brewers) the last few years. I respect the way they play."

For Matthews, McCullers' legacy in Houston will be remembered less for any single performance than for the consistency with which he approached the game.

"No matter how he was feeling, he was going out there just giving it his all," Matthews said. "I think that's the type of thing that you respect, and that's what you want out of your guys. Just to see him put it all out there on the line each and every time, it was amazing."

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This article originally published at 'Great teammate.' Astros reflect on time with Lance McCullers Jr. after trade.

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