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White Sox player speaks after quitting team for family

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Days after a Chicago White Sox player left the team and his $13 million contract, he is speaking out on the matter.

Adam LaRoche left spring training after being told by White Sox VP Ken Williams that his 14-year-old son, Drake LaRoche, would have to scale back the amount of time he spends with the team.

LaRoche says when he signed with the team before the 2015 season, an agreement was in place for Drake to spend time with the team.

On Friday, LaRoche issued a statement about his decision and leaving the team, saying in part:

I will leave you with the same advice that I left my teammates. In life, we’re all faced with difficult decisions and will have a choice to make. Do we act based on the consequences, or do we act on what we know and believe in our hearts to be right? I choose the latter.”

“Sometimes you have to make decisions in this world that are unpopular,” said Williams after LaRoche left the team.

A 12-year veteran of MLB, the 36-year-old LaRoche struggled in 2015, having one of his worst seasons as a ballplayer. His average in 127 games was just .207 with 12 home runs and 44 RBI.

LaRoche is also the son of a major league player. His father Dave LaRoche played 14 seasons between 1970 and 1983, twice being named to the MLB All-Star Game.

To read the full statement, click here.