Bogaerts welcomed back to Boston with ovation and BBQ

BOSTON -- Without a bat to swing or a ball to throw, injured Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts was able to focus exclusively on nostalgia as he made his first trip to Fenway Park since departing following the 2022 season, thus ending a near decade-long run with the Red Sox that included a pair of World Series championship banners.

Prior to the top of the second inning, a Bogaerts highlight package was played on the jumbotron that included many big hits, and those patented jump throws in the hole he patterned after his boyhood idol Derek Jeter.

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At the conclusion of the video, the caption read, “The Red Sox welcome back World Series champion Xander Bogaerts.”

Bogaerts stepped out of the visiting dugout and tipped his cap to the crowd, all the while keeping a wide smile on his face. The crowd roared with appreciation.

“I was here so long and have a lot of memories,” said Bogaerts. “A lot of good ones, also bad ones, tough ones. But I feel like it's been a lot more good than bad.”

Of course, Bogaerts would have preferred to be competing against his original franchise, just like he did when the Red Sox came to San Diego last season. Recovering from a left shoulder fracture sustained on May 20 in Atlanta, Bogaerts hopes to be activated by the Padres before the All-Star break.

“That does suck, because it’s one that you had marked on your calendar, and I was looking forward to it and I was hoping maybe I’d be able to play,” said Bogaerts. “But at least I’m here, watching a baseball game.”

Bogaerts exercised the opt-out clause of his contract with Boston following the 2022 season. A few weeks later, with the Winter Meetings wrapping up -- coincidentally, in San Diego -- Bogaerts signed an 11-year, $280 million deal with the Padres.

Though Bogaerts hoped he could play his whole career in Boston, the business of baseball changed his vision. There was no hint of bitterness from either side on Friday.

“I’m happy and I feel like they’re happy also,” said Bogaerts.

For over an hour on Friday afternoon, Bogaerts stood just outside the dugout he used to call home and chatted up Red Sox manager Alex Cora and rookie Ceddanne Rafaela.

The emotions weren’t mixed. Bogaerts was genuinely happy to be back home.

“[Just so many] people helped me get to where I am right now,” said Bogaerts. “I mean, pretty much everyone on that side that helped me. I'm very appreciative for them and the players, the coaches and the front office. They were always really nice to me.”

When it comes to Bogaerts and the Red Sox, it’s more than the 1,264 games he played or the 179 homers he hit or the stability he provided on defense. It was about family.

The Red Sox signed Bogaerts as an international free agent on Aug. 23, 2009. He was 16 years old.

At first, the Red Sox nurtured Bogaerts. Before long, he was the one doing the nurturing, which included his mentorship of current Boston star third baseman Rafael Devers.

Bogaerts spent Thursday’s off-day at a cookout at Devers’ Boston-area residence.

As a late-season call-up in 2013, Bogaerts found his way into the lineup midway through the American League Championship Series and started all six games of the World Series victory over the Cardinals.

Interestingly, his most memorable moment came from one of the two games the Red Sox lost in that Fall Classic. It was a game-tying single against Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal in the top of the eighth inning.

“I always consider that the biggest hit of my career,” said Bogaerts.

Cora wasn’t around for the fun of 2013, so he had a different Bogaerts highlight to reflect on when asked on Friday.

That would be the two-run homer Bogaerts hammered against Gerrit Cole in the first inning of the 2021 AL Wild Card Game. Fenway Park was deafening after a tone-setting hit that led the Sox to a 6-2 victory over their rivals.

Even if not his favorite, Bogaerts enjoyed recalling the moment.

“Probably the loudest I’ve heard Fenway, to be honest with you,” said Bogaerts. “Red Sox-Yankees, one game [to get to the Division Series] and as a result, it was probably the loudest.”

On Friday, Fenway got loud again for Bogaerts, who will always hold a special place in Red Sox Nation, regardless of what uniform he is wearing.