Legendary Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa and the organization appear to be making amends after years of conflict, and Sosa is expected to be invited to the 2025 Cubs convention.

Sosa publicly apologized for “mistakes” he made during his playing career and said he couldn’t wait to see the team’s fans again.

“We cannot change the past, but the future is bright,” he said in the letter. “I have always been a Cub at heart and I can’t wait to see Cubs fans again.”

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, who has publicly stated that Sosa would not be welcomed back into the organization until he apologizes for his past actions, issued a statement on behalf of the team confirming that Sosa will be invited to the Cubs convention in January.

“We are pleased that Sammy released his statement and came forward. Nobody played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody is perfect, but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs,” he said. “We are all ready to move forward together.”

The team said the invitation was “short notice” but expressed hope that Sosa would attend the meeting.

Sosa is the only player in MLB history to hit 60 or more home runs in three different seasons, with the Cubs in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He won the National League MVP award in 1998, led the Cubs to two playoff appearances and led the team in numerous offensive categories.

Still, Sosa has been persona non grata since leaving the organization after the 2004 season. In addition to his acrimonious exit, which saw him infamously refuse to play in the final game of the season, he has since drawn the ire of Ricketts, who said the slugger needed to be honest about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs during his Cubs career -Career.

Sosa has steadfastly refused to use PEDs throughout his career, and although he wrote in his letter that he had not “broken the law,” he acknowledged that he made mistakes in trying to recover from injuries had made what appeared to be an admission of consumption of these substances.

“There were times when I did my best to recover from my injuries and maintain my strength for 162 games,” he said. “I have never broken any laws, but in hindsight I made mistakes and I apologize for that.”

Sosa also said that he worked extremely hard in the batting cage to improve as a hitter and that he looks back fondly on the things the team accomplished during his time in Chicago.

In addition to an invitation to the Cubs Convention, there is also the possibility that Sosa will be selected for induction into the Cubs Hall of Fame. The Cubs have selected dozens of former players and broadcasters for induction into the Hall of Fame, but Sosa’s conspicuous absence from that group has only increased calls for redemption from the slugger and the team.

Here is Sosa’s full letter, released via his PR agency:

“I left everything on the field to the Cubs and the Cubs fans because I wanted to win and make the fans happy.

“I loved seeing the Wrigley fans in the stands at every home game.

“I understand why some players of my era don’t always get the recognition our stats deserve.

“There were times when I did my best to recover from my injuries and maintain my strength for 162 games. I have never broken any laws, but in hindsight I have made mistakes and I apologize for them.

“We did great things as a team and I worked extremely hard in the batting cage to become a great hitter.

“Cubs fans are the best in the world and I hope fans, the Cubs and I can all get back together and move on.

“We cannot change the past, but the future is bright. I have always been a Cub at heart and I can’t wait to see the Cubs fans again.”

Here is Ricketts’ full statement:

“We are pleased that Sammy released his statement and came forward. Nobody played harder or wanted to win more. No one is perfect, but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs.

“To say Sammy is a fan favorite is an understatement. We plan to invite him to the 2025 Cubs Convention and hope he can attend, even if it is on short notice. We are all ready to move forward together.”