MULDERSDRIFT, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 07: A general view of the accommodation that will house the Socceroos as the Socceroos prepare ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, at Kloofzicht Lodge on June 7, 2010 in Muldersdrift, South Africa. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Jason Heyward has not been a Chicago Cub for very long, but he’s already made quite an impact on one “new” teammate. David Ross is going to retire after the 2016 season, and though he won’t be showered with gifts from every city he visits like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera were, he’s already received a plenty good enough gift before the season even began. Heyward, with all of his new found cash reserves, bought Ross a suite in every hotel for every one of the Cubs 82 road games this season.

“That’s one of the first emotional moments I had in the offseason,” Ross told MLB.com on Monday. “[Heyward] texted me this nice long message about supposedly what I’ve done for him. That was cool to start reflecting back and people you’ve played with start saying nice things.”

Ross and Heyward played together in Atlanta from 2010 to 2012, and the two shared lockers when Heyward made his debut in 2010. And it’s not just Heyward that reveres the retiring catcher. Two of the Cubs young stars, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, have created an Instagram account called “Grandpa Rossy” in his honor.

Rossy on that 630 am grind getting in some early work #YearLongRetirementParty

A photo posted by David Ross (@grandparossy_3) on

“I’m going to have kids calling me ‘Grandpa’ around here. I’ll show ’em. I’ll get them out there and race them. I’ll race Rizzo and see who’s faster,” Ross joked.

While the account is jovial and light-hearted, Ross has already made a profound impact on Rizzo and the rest of his young teammates.

“What I’ve learned from him last year and to this year and what I’m going to learn for the rest of my career from him being here, it’s huge to me,” Rizzo said. “I gave him all the credit in the world for last year, and I still give him credit. What he does in this clubhouse helps all of us young guys.”

Maybe Ross could go out with a World Series ring on his finger. There likely wouldn’t be a better way to send him off than that.

[MLB.com]

About Matt Lichtenstadter

Recent Maryland graduate. I've written for many sites including World Soccer Talk, GianlucaDiMarzio.com, Testudo Times, Yahoo's Puck Daddy Blog and more. Houndstooth is still cool, at least to me. Follow me @MattsMusings1 on Twitter, e-mail me about life and potential jobs at matthewaaron9 at Yahoo dot com.