For nine straight seasons the 2014-22 Boston Red Sox had Xander Bogaerts at shortstop on Opening Day.<\/p>\n
After a three-year hiatus, Bogaerts was back<\/a> at his old spot for the Fenway home opener on Friday. And despite wearing the brown and gold uniform of the visiting San Diego Padres, \u201cBogey\u201d received the warmest possible welcome from the Fenway Faithful.<\/p>\n Bogaerts\u2019 name was met with a level of enthusiasm equal to that of several current Red Sox stars during the traditional pregame introductions. But the moment that deeply moved his former manager came in the top of the first, as the veteran shortstop readied himself for his first at-bat at Fenway as a visiting player. The applause began immediately as \u201cThe shortstop, No. 2, Xander Bogaerts,\u201d was announced over the sound system for the first time since the end of the 2022 season. By the time Bogaerts reached the batter\u2019s box, it was a standing ovation<\/a>, and it continued for over half a minute as he tipped his batting helmet in response.<\/p>\n \u201cTip my hat to the fans,\u201d Alex Cora said after Boston\u2019s 5-2 win<\/a>. \u201cThat ovation to the shortstop over there? Wow. That was probably the best out of all of them that have come back. That was really good. That was cool.\u201d<\/p>\n Bogaerts\u2019 first series against the Red Sox would\u2019ve been in June 2024, but he was on the injured list with a fractured shoulder; all he could do was watch emotionally as the Red Sox paid tribute to him with a video montage. When the Red Sox won the series finale, Bogaerts stood alone in the visitors\u2019 dugout watching his former teammates celebrate their win, and tipped his cap to Cora and Rafael Devers.<\/p>\n \u201cI know he was here the last time, he was hurt,\u201d Cora said of the 2024 series. \u201cBut that was tremendous (today). That\u2019s the way it should be. With everyone that has won a World Series here.\u201d<\/p>\n Most returning former players aren\u2019t Bogaerts, though. He was 16 years old when he signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent out of Aruba, and 20 when he debuted during the 2013 season and helped Boston win its third of four World Series championships this century. Bogaerts was a leader on the 2018 squad that won a franchise-record 108 regular-season games and their fourth championship, and he was a four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger during his 10 Red Sox seasons. He remains the franchise\u2019s all-time leader in games played at shortstop.<\/p>\n Bogaerts consistently expressed that he wanted to spend his entire career in Boston<\/a>, before he was pushed toward the exit and ultimately signed his 11-year, $280 million free-agent contract with the Padres in December 2022.<\/p>\n