Chicago White Sox super prospect Yoan Moncada joined the big league team on Wednesday, but instead of getting a chauffeur service from the airport, the youngster decided on a much cooler approach.
According to White Sox G.M. Rick Hahn, Moncada texted new teammate Jose Abreu and asked him if he could get a ride from the airport. Abreu, who like Moncada hails from Cuba, took the opportunity to bring the youngster under his wing and went and picked him up at Midway.
“It was a good ride,” Abreu said. “We got a little bit nervous because the traffic was bad, but it was good.”
Abreu and Moncada were briefly teammates in Cuba before Jose came to the United States, and the duo have been close since the White Sox acquired Moncada from Boston in the Chris Sale trade.
Abreu had nothing but nice things to say about his new teammate, and he expressed confidence that he would fit in well.
“He’s an outstanding player, and I’m going to be here right by his side to help him in anything that he needs help,” Abreu said. “Of course, he’s going to have some butterflies flying around his stomach the first game and probably during the first week or so, but I’m going to be there for him.”
Moncada, the top-ranked prospect in baseball, was immediately inserted into the White Sox lineup for his debut, batting sixth and playing second base.