For four seasons, former Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo called Fenway Park home.
Now, after being shipped to the New York Yankees in a rare in-division trade, Verdugo is set to return to Boston for the first time as a visitor since 2019.
What's on the 28-year-old's mind as the matchup is just days away?
“Part of me, I’m excited,” Verdugo said (via. MassLive). “That’s my favorite ballpark and still is, to this day. I love the atmosphere, I love the layout of it. I’ve got a lot of friends over there on that team, too. To be able to see them is going to be refreshing and nice to see them again. But I’m also excited to play. I know when the game’s on, it’s gonna be competing like no other. I remember it from that side, being with the Red Sox. I expect it to be the same way.
“I’m curious to see how the fans take it, how the first greeting is, I guess,” he said. “I’m open to whatever they do... It is gonna be a very personal series, just because I was with them for the last four years. But I’m excited about it.”
Verdugo didn't exactly have the best ending to his tenure in Boston, between his on-field performance dipping, benchings and questions about his work ethic, so it wouldn't be surprising if fans were not very welcoming at Fenway this week.
Although, considering how many visiting fans have been traveling to Boston this year, it might not be as bad as it would be if the Red Sox were true contenders in 2024.
