“Houston… I can’t believe this day has come,” she posted on Instagram, along with emojis of a sad face and heartbreak. “The end of an era and the closing of a major chapter in our lives.”
Lance and Kara were high school sweethearts growing up in Tampa, Fla., and got married in 2015, just seven months after a 21-year-old McCullers, who was drafted by the Astros straight out of high school in 2012, made his big-league debut. Since then, they’ve made their permanent home in Houston and have had two daughters.
“(Eleven) seasons, 2 world championships, 2 kids and 5 dogs later … and here we are,” Kara wrote on Instagram. “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. From the highest of the highs to the lowest of the lows, this city has truly been through it all with us. The friendships we’ve built and the memories we’ve made during our time playing here are immeasurable. I’m forever proud of all that my husband was able to accomplish during his time here and most of all for his unwavering dedication to this team and this city through it all. We will forever be grateful to the Houston Astros organization and to this amazing place that we will always call home. As bittersweet as it is to say, we are excited for this new chapter and the opportunity that lies ahead. Let’s go Brew Crew!!”
On the day he was traded, Lance McCullers shared similar thoughts about the city.
“When I got here and kind of fell in love with the city, it was really important to me that I give back to the city. And I did that,” he said. “I feel like I really poured myself into the city just as equally as they poured themselves into me and to our team over the years. So that’s how I hope that I’m remembered.”