Why The Cubs’ Marcus Stroman Decided To Represent Puerto Rico In The WBC

Why Stroman decided to represent Puerto Rico in the WBC originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Marcus Stroman moves on to play for Team Puerto Rico in this upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC).

– Advertisement –

The Cubs the starting pitcher played for Team USA last WBC in 2017, but now he’s moving to Puerto Rico. In a lengthy response, Stroman explained that his mother and her heritage as a Puerto Rican were the main influences on his decision to change.

“To go there and represent its culture. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico until she was eight years old. So I feel like it’s an amazing story to be able to go there,” Stroman said. “Shows you that I am multicultural. It shows you that I have the American side, but I also have connections. I’m also 50% Puerto Rican after all. And it comes from my mother. And that’s a huge point. My flare, my swag, my charisma. I really feel like everything comes from this Puerto Rican side.

A REPORT: Stroman opens spring for Cubs

Stroman will join Javier Báez, Francisco Lindor, Kiké Hernández, José Berríos and many other notable names with the Puerto Rico team.

In a touching statement about his decision to play for Puerto Rico, he mentioned his close relationship with his mother, whom he helped retire to Palm Beach, and who is now his assistant and chief financial officer.

Stroman said he had a “very, very small circle” with a “very small family” and “very, very few friends”. Her mother is her “best friend” and her “rock”. Stroman says he talks to her every day and more than anyone he associates with.

And despite the noise surrounding his move from Team USA to Team Puerto Rico, Stroman doesn’t care.

“I don’t care about the noise, you know. I see him. But it no longer penetrates my aura at all. I can agree with everyone who says, ‘Oh, you can’t come and play with us.’ Or the people in the United States who say, ‘Oh, why are you changing?’ It doesn’t matter what anyone says. That’s what I started to learn. It’s just the chatter of little minds. So at the end of the day, if I’m happy, I’ll do whatever I want to do. Everyone around me is happy. And that’s kind of the mindset that I adopted.

The story continues

“If I were to allow social media or the things people say to get to me on a daily basis, there would be no way I could walk through life the way I do and everything would slow down. I wouldn’t be able to have success on I wouldn’t be able to have good relationships off the pitch. I wouldn’t be able to push him into my ventures. So everything is in harmony. I really believe it.

“So here I am. I will stay here for a long time. No one can do anything about it at this point. You’re just going to have to sit and watch.”

Stroman will take to the mound first in spring training to help him get his reps in before taking off for the WBC in early March.

Click here to follow the Cubs Talk podcast.