This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding¡¯s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Last spring, Rockies infielder Alan Trejo answered a call from his heart and represented Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. And Mexico hasn¡¯t stopped embracing him.

Trejo and the Rockies will meet the Astros in Mexico in the Mexico City Series on Saturday and Sunday at Estadio Alfredo Harp Hel¨².

Trejo is from Los Angeles, but he¡¯s from a family of educators whose roots are in Morelos, Zacatecas. His parents have maintained traditions and helped make sure he is in touch with family. In 2023, Trejo represented Mexico in the beginning during the WBC, and at the end by playing winter ball for Charros de Jalisco.

¡°It¡¯s part of the culture,¡± Trejo said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t born in Mexico, but culturally I¡¯m Mexican. My parents grew up in Mexico. It¡¯s a beautiful thing to be welcome by the community. When I was down there playing winter ball, I felt like a native and they treated me as a native. That speaks volumes about the culture in Mexico, and my parents -- they raised me the right way.¡±

Trejo¡¯s ancestral home is a big part of why he¡¯s still with the Rockies as they head to Mexico City.

Last season, Trejo batted .232 in 83 games with the Rockies. However, he struggled with the irregular playing time, and was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to regain his swing. Playing winter ball allowed Trejo to simplify his approach and mechanics to better handle bench duty. He has played little this season, going 2-for-18 with much of his time coming during the last road trip when second baseman Brendan Rodgers was ill.

The time with Jalisco was a family reunion as well as a business trip.

¡°My mom and dad were able to join me for Opening Day in Mexico, so that was special,¡± Trejo said. ¡°In fact they rented a minivan for about 20 of them for that Opening Day. It was pretty special. I had not seen them in a long time.¡±

Even before the Rockies took off for Mexico, Trejo was feeling the reception that would be awaiting his team.

¡°Mexico is a baseball country,¡± Trejo said. ¡°It gets overshadowed by soccer. But we¡¯re going to one of the best venues in Mexico. It¡¯s where the Diablos Rojas play. It should be a blast.¡±