Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman stepped onto familiar ground, but under very different situations. Correa was making his most awaited return to the Houston Astros after a blockbuster trade from the Minnesota Twins, where as Bregman was visiting Daikin Park for the first time as an opponent since joining the Boston Red Sox this offseason.
The game itself was a exciting, with Houston fending off a late Boston rally to secure a 7-6 win in the opener of the three-game series. But for many fans, the night was about two acquainted faces back in town.
Bregman, who spent nine seasons with the Astros, was greeted before the game with a tribute video celebrating his accomplishments, from two World Series championships to multiple All-Star appearances. “Really cool,” he said. “Great moment, just tried to soak it all in. (Red Sox manager Alex Cora) told me to enjoy it and I really tried to. It was a special moment.”
The crowd applauded warmly before his first at-bat, but the tone changed after he launched a two-run homer in the opening inning. From that point on, the home fans greeted him with loud boos every time he stepped to the plate. “It was great,” Bregman laughed. “I loved it. I was hoping they would.”
Correa, meanwhile, received a hero’s welcome. A “Welcome Home” message flashed on the big screen before his first at-bat, prompting a standing ovation from the 39,330 fans in attendance. He stepped back, removed his helmet, and acknowledged the crowd before focusing on the task at hand. “I got chills and I almost felt like crying,” Correa admitted. “But I was like I cannot cry before facing a possible Cy Young winner. So keep it together. But it was truly special to see how much love this city has for me.”
The shortstop marked his return with an RBI single to help Houston’s offense, continuing his hot streak since the trade. In nine games back with the Astros, he has been batting .405 with 15 hits, including two home runs and six RBIs.
Bregman, the second overall pick in the 2015 draft, was a cornerstone in Houston’s transformation into a championship powerhouse. He played in eight AL Championship Series, four World Series, and helped secure two titles. Individually, he won a Gold Glove in 2023, a Silver Slugger in 2019, and was runner-up for AL MVP that same year.
Both players acknowledged the unusual timing of their returns. “I was shocked at the news during the trade deadline and it was awesome and it looks like he’s fit right back in,” Bregman said of Correa. “He’s a great player, a leader, great teammate. It’s always difficult to compete against him because he’s such a good competitor, but we’re gonna give it our best shot today.”
For Correa, who waived his no-trade clause to make the move back, returning to the team where his career began after four years away felt almost unreal. “Surreal” was how he summed it up — a night full of emotion, nostalgia, and a little bit of déjà vu.
