PITTSBURGH — Cubs right-handers Markus Stroman published the cover of his first book, loosely based on his childhood and written for 8 to 12 year olds, on Twitter on Friday.
Stroman’s interests outside of baseball are diverse, from podcasting to wine. He has launched two clothing brands, with the second, SHUGO, due to launch in November. This three-part book series, published by Simon & Schuster, is his latest project.
“If an idea comes to me and I want to do something, I do it,” Stroman said in an interview with the Sun-Times. “I dont wait. I started it right away. I have a great team of people around me who help to make all my ideas come true. . . . I was very involved which was great. So I’m excited to see the reaction once it’s out.”
The first book in the series, titled The Grip, is available for pre-order now and will be available on January 31, 2023.
“It’s loosely based on my upbringing as a kid,” Stroman said. “Young minority kid showing up, divorced parents, playing sports, going through school and dealing with everything young kids deal with – from bullies to juggling school and homework to living in the house your mother and then to your father’s house in a divorced household. So I’m excited because it’s really geared towards mental adversity and mental health as well.”
When asked to imagine his young son, KaiOne day, picking up the book to read, Stroman took a moment to think about what to take away from it.
“Just always being himself, passionately chasing your dreams, never letting anyone get in the way of your dreams,” Stroman said. “I feel like there are often so many people working against you in this world, especially on social media. Or there are so many ways you can give in to people and not allow yourself to really chase after what you want to do in life. So I think it’s extremely important to have a small group of people who love you and who will support you.”
Stroman said the next two books in the series will also be semi-autobiographical. But while he has a few ideas, their specific topic has yet to be decided.
A few months before The Grip comes out, Stroman has another launch party planned. Pre-orders for SHUGO ZERO cleats and sneakers in three colorways went online shug0.com in this week. Stroman said he plans the first or second week of November for the launch party.
Injury updates
left handed Brandon Hugheswho twisted his ankle on the hill Thursday was still a little sore, manager DavidRoss said.
“He said, ‘I’ll tape it and get ready,'” Ross said. “Well, we’ll see. That’s a good mentality for him.”
catcher Willson Contreras (sprained left ankle) has had a variety of baseball activities, according to the team. This included batting practice on the field and running the bases. The Cubs have not announced a timetable for his return.
left handed Drew Smyly played easy catch. The Cubs skipped his last start due to fatigue in his left shoulder.
left handed Justin Steele (strained lower back) completed a light bullpen session on Wednesday and is scheduled for another bullpen session over the next few days. v
