This is how you do a homecoming.
Alex Bregman returned to Houston Monday for the first time since he left the Astros last offseason to join the Boston Red Sox. He received a warm welcome from an appreciative Houston crowd. He then proceeded to hit a home run in his first at-bat of the game.
Bregman was greeted with a tribute video on the big board featuring a montage of his Houston highlights. Fans in the stands then welcomed him with a standing ovation as he stepped out of the Boston dugout to tip his cap, showing no hard feelings over his decision to leave the franchise for the rival Red Sox.
Then came time for baseball.
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Bregman took the plate in the top of the first inning with no outs and a runner on first base after Roman Anthony led the game off with a single off of Astros starter Cristian Javier.
Bregman then got the best of his former World Series champion teammate, launching a 1-1 sweeper that hung over the plate into the left-field bleachers.
The home run gave the Astros an early 2-0 lead in Bregman's first career at-bat in Houston wearing something other than an Astros uniform. It also signaled a tough start to Javier's return in his first MLB appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of 2024.
Bregman previously played nine seasons with the Astros as one of the faces of a franchise that won two World Series titles during his tenure. He was named to two All-Star teams, won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger and received MVP votes in four different seasons during his time with the Astros.
He joined the Red Sox on a three-year, $120 million contract in the offseason as Boston sought to raise its profile as a competitor in the AL playoff race. Bregman's so far delivered.
He entered Monday with the highest batting average of his career while slashing .298/.380/.531. His two-run blast off of Javier put him at 15 home runs and 48 RBI for the season. He was named an All-Star for the third time of his career in June.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, entered Monday with a three-game cushion for second of three AL wild-card spots. A postseason matchup with Astros — who entered Monday with a half-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West — is potentially in store.
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