Social media allows baseball players to bypass the media and connect directly with the fans, for good and bad.

Increasingly, players are taking to Twitter to say good-bye to fans of their former team (and also to say hello to fans in the new city). Here’s a sampling of athletes thanking the fans of their former teams via Twitter:

Thanks to the @RedSox for everything and to Red Sox Nation for your support. Looking forward to being a part of the @Dbacks organization.

— Allen Webster (@11webster11) December 13, 2014

Gone, but taking a ton of great memories w/me. Thx for the gr8 love and support #RedSoxNation. AZDesert here I come ! pic.twitter.com/bosuB2eQMz

— Rubby De La Rosa ⚾️ (@RubbyDelarosa) December 12, 2014

To Red Sox Nation, I understand the disappointment. Boston will always have a big place in my heart and we’ll always consider y’all family! — Jon Lester (@JLester31) December 10, 2014

I want to say thank you to the Diamondbacks for 14 years in the organization. I made a lot of great friends and I’m going to miss them all. — miguel montero (@miggymont26) December 9, 2014

pic.twitter.com/kUSLlGiYZb

— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) November 29, 2014

It is with a lot of emotion that I say goodbye to the city and the fans who have been there since the… http://t.co/IbyhZWQ55B

— Matt Kemp (@TheRealMattKemp) December 11, 2014

pic.twitter.com/KSkrZmKVUg — Dee Gordon (@FlashGJr) December 11, 2014

And, of course, Brett Lawrie just decided to do it fan by fan:

I’m sure u guys all remember seeing this little girl on YouTube about me leaving the jays so I thot I’d surprise her😁 pic.twitter.com/AUNyRloTgi

— Brett Lawrie (@blawrie13) December 12, 2014

New York, I can’t even put into words how much I’ve enjoyed and appreciated my time there. Thank y’all for an incredible 7 years. — David Robertson (@DRob30) December 11, 2014

pic.twitter.com/h5ZMzHMCu4 — Nelson Cruz (@ncboomstick23) December 4, 2014

And more. All in all, it’s a nice thing they do.