Arenado gets warm ovation in Coors return

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado, in a nearly 20-minute Zoom session with reporters before his first game back at Coors Field on Thursday, was asked countless times about his expectations for how fans would react to his return in a Cardinals uniform.

He hoped for cheers, since he played at Coors Field for eight years, “show[ing] up every day and [giving] them everything I could.” But he acknowledged there could be some boos, the relationship between him and the Rockies having grown icy before he was ultimately dealt to St. Louis on Feb. 1.

Worries begone. The gathered masses in the Mile High City for Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Rockies showed little but love for the best third baseman -- and one of the best all-around players -- to come through their city.

It began with a pregame video from the Rockies, continued when his name was announced during the starting lineups and hit a peak when he came out of the dugout for his first at-bat, taking a minute to show appreciation for the reception and wiping away some tears before he stepped into the batter’s box.

“I didn't think I would just get as emotional as I [did],” Arenado said on Friday, a day removed from the festivities. “But it hit me a little bit looking to the stands, because sometimes when I hit the homers I would point to the stands and kind of give credit to them. Reminded me of the good old days here a little bit.”

Arenado did hear a few less-than-enthused individuals.

“I heard some boos, and that's all right, I get it,” Arenado said. “But to all the people that cheered, it was pretty awesome. One of the better feelings I had in my career.”

With extra family and friends at the ballpark -- Arenado’s cousin, Josh Fuentes, is an infielder for the Rockies -- Arenado had to swallow back the moment and prepare to help his scuffling ballclub seize some momentum ahead of the All-Star break.

Arenado’s night ultimately ended 0-for-4 with a strikeout and his team’s in a walk-off loss at the hands of catcher Elias Díaz, who stepped in front of the plate to allow the applause to swell for his former teammate in the first inning.

Unusual for Arenado was turning the opposite way toward the visiting clubhouse on Thursday afternoon, a day after he had dinner with close friend Trevor Story, a colleague he’s weighing competing against in the Home Run Derby in two weeks back here in Denver. It was a day of peculiarity, with both red and purple No. 28 Arenado jerseys scattered across the stadium.

But a return to Coors Field is assuredly in the books. On Thursday, Arenado was named a starter for his sixth career All-Star Game.

In all, it was quite an emotional day at the office, falling a Cardinals win short of hitting the bingo card.

“Yesterday's game was a tough one,” Arenado said. “We lost. I didn't feel like I was totally there, in a way. But it was a great day. It was a special day.”