Houston – Baseball is more than just the game. There are moments when all the numbers are meaningless – and Houston Astros star pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is experiencing one of those moments. Last night, McCullers’ representative confirmed that his grandfather – the person who had the biggest influence on his life and career – had passed away after a long battle with illness.
The sad news comes just days after McCullers completed his rehab for an arm injury, preparing for the 2026 season. And in that moment, the person who had always been in the stands watching his every pitch – was no more.
“He taught me to love baseball before I even knew how to hold a ball”
In a touching post on his personal page X (Twitter), Lance McCullers Jr. wrote briefly but brought thousands of people to tears:
“He was the first person to put a glove in my hand. The person who taught me how to throw my first curveball. And the person who said, ‘Play with your heart, not just your arm.’ Today, I will throw one more time – for him.”
Those words shocked the Houston fan community. Everyone knows the deep affection McCullers has for his grandfather – who used to be a semi-professional pitcher in Florida and who instilled in him a strong love for baseball.
When Lance was a child, it was his grandfather who took him to the practice field every weekend, sitting for hours just to watch his grandson practice throwing. And every time McCullers played in an Astros uniform, he watched every game on TV, not missing a single pitch.
Before practice this morning at Minute Maid Park, the entire Astros team held a moment of silence to share the loss of McCullers. The image of teammates such as Alex Bregman, Jeremy Peña, José Altuve hugging him as he entered the field moved many people.
Coach Joe Espada said:
“Lance was more than just a player – he was the heart of this locker room. And we are here, as a family, to help him through this pain.”
According to ESPN, McCullers has asked for a few days off from the team to return to Florida for a family funeral. He still plans to return soon, with the hope of “throwing the first pitch of next season in his memory.”
McCullers, born in 1993, has been with the Houston Astros since 2015. He was a member of the 2017 World Series championship team and has always been known as one of the most resilient pitchers in the league. But behind his cool demeanor on the field is a deep heart – where baseball and family come together.
In an old interview with The Athletic, McCullers shared:
“When I was a kid, my grandpa always said, ‘If you love baseball, don’t just play for yourself. Play for the people who love you.’ And I always do. Every time I go out there, I think of him.”
Despite his temporary absence from the team, McCullers reportedly told Espada that he “will be back sooner than expected.” An insider revealed that he plans to engrave his grandfather’s name on his glove for next season, as a lasting tribute.
Astros fans have also hung pictures of McCullers and his grandfather in the stands, along with the words:
“Pitch for him, Lance.”
Lance McCullers Jr.’s story is a reminder that — even in the cutthroat world of MLB — family is the foundation of every victory.
For Lance, the 2026 season may not start as expected, but it will start with a promise:
“I will keep throwing, I will keep fighting – for you, and for everything you believed in me.”
Houston may have lost an old fan, but Lance McCullers Jr. – with his memory in his heart – will show the world that love and baseball never die.
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