Straw visits former Astros teammates at WS

Outfielder played 98 games for Houston in '21 before trade to Cleveland

October 31st, 2021

ATLANTA -- Not many people recognized Cleveland outfielder Myles Straw in the stands at Truist Park prior to Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday night. The fact he was wearing a gray Michael Brantley jersey helped him blend into the crowd, though the steady stream of Astros players talking to him from the field gave him away to some.

Straw, who was traded from Houston to Cleveland in July, made a seven-hour drive from his home in Bradenton, Fla., to Atlanta to cheer on his friends on the Astros. Straw remains close to several players on the team, including veteran outfielder Brantley.

“I got some of my best friends here,” Straw said. “I came to watch some baseball and watch the boys ball out.”

Straw isn’t the first active player to attend a postseason game to root on former teammates this year. Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was at the National League Wild Card Game in Los Angeles to support Trea Turner and Max Scherzer, who had been traded from the Nats to the Dodgers earlier in the year. Soto was wearing a Turner Nationals jersey.

The camaraderie among players remains strong, even when they change teams, Straw said.

“This is the top of the top,” Straw said. “This is the World Series, and I played close to 100 games with these guys just this year. Like I said, I felt I was here for a while, and to see these guys here on this stage is awesome.”

Straw, the speedy center fielder who broke into the Majors with the Astros in 2018, hit .262/.339/.326 with 17 stolen bases in 98 games for Houston this year, when he was tabbed as the replacement for George Springer in center field. Needing to bolster the bullpen, the Astros traded Straw to Cleveland for reliever Phil Maton. Straw was named an American League Gold Glove Award finalist in center.

If Houston wins the World Series, Straw will get a championship ring for his contributions.

“I’m pulling for them,” Straw said. “All the time spent here with these guys, that’s what I’m hoping for. All these guys, that’s what they’re here for, is they want to win. A World Series ring would be great.”

Brantley was among the players who emerged from the dugout to greet Straw in the stands, and the two exchanged a hug.

“That’s my guy -- my pick to click tonight,” Straw said. “Mike’s always been here for me, and he’s one of my good buddies.”