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Red Sox fans salute Xander Bogaerts in his first return to Fenway as active player
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- Red Sox fans salute Xander Bogaerts in his first return to Fenway as active player
BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts had returned to Fenway Park in the uniform of the San Diego Padres before, appearing as a visiting player during the 2024 season.
But because Bogaerts was injured at the time, he never got the chance to come to the plate or even has his name announced as part of the Padres’ starting lineup.
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That changed Friday, with Bogaerts healthy and hitting second. And Red Sox fans serenaded him with a lengthy and hearty ovation that moved Bogaerts and impressed members of the Red Sox .
“I tip my hat to the fans,” said Alex Cora of the response from the sellout crowd. “That ovation for the shortstop over there...wow, that was probably the best out of all of them that have come back. That was really good. That was cool. I know he was hurt the last time he was here, but that was tremendous. That’s the way it should be with everybody who has won a World Series here.”
Bogaerts, of course, signed an 11-year, $280 million contract with the Padres in December of 2022. The Red Sox made an offer prior to the start of the 2022 season that Bogaerts barely considered, then failed to be aggressive in their efforts to re-sign him after the season.
His departure, coming less than three years after the team dealt away Mookie Betts as he neared free agency , reinforced the notion that the Sox weren’t willing to spend to retain their own star players.
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Red Sox starter Sonny Gray was on the mound for Bogaerts’ first at-bat and graciously stepped off the pitching rubber to allow fans to express their appreciation for the shortstop.
“I was warming up in the bullpen and I heard the lineups being announced and they said ‘Bogaerts’ and the place cheered really loud,” said Gray. “I was like, ‘That’s really nice; he deserves it.’ So when it happened (again) in he first, I was like. ‘Oh, that makes sense.’ I wasn’t watching him do his thing (in acknowledging the crowd). I mean, I respect him. But as a competitor in that moment, I turned around and let him have his moment.
“And when it was over, I was like, ‘OK, now it’s my turn.’ (It was time to) get back on the mound and continue the game.”
Despite the fanfare, Bogaerts had little impact on the game, going hitless in four at-bats.
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