Houston Astros fans displayed their respect for Alex Bregman in more ways than one Monday night.
The Red Sox third baseman returned to Houston on Monday for the first time since leaving the Astros in 2025 free agency to sign a three-year, $120 million contract with Boston.
The night started as you might expect: A touching video tribute played on the Jumbotron at Daikin Park honoring Bregman’s many contributions to the Astros, including his key role in two World Series titles (2017 and 2022) over nine seasons with the franchise.
The Houston crowd gave Bregman a standing ovation, then delivered more warm cheers when Bregman came to bat in the first inning and tipped his cap to acknowledge the fans.
Three pitches later, Bregman did this:
Bregman’s two-run home run — his 95th all-time at Houston’s stadium — gave the Red Sox an instant two-run lead, and served as a sudden reminder to Astros fans that he was now the enemy.
So, when the former Astros star stepped in for his second at-bat, they treated him as such by showering him with boos.
Bregman could be seen smiling in the dugout after his second at-bat, and after the game, he admitted he enjoyed the fans’ sudden change of heart.
“It was great. I loved it. I loved it,” Bregman said of the fans booing him, via MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I was hoping they would.”
Why exactly did Bregman love getting booed in his former MLB home?
“Just because it’s two good teams getting after it,” Bregman explained. “They want to win. You know what I mean? Like, both teams want to win really badly. It’s fun. It’s good. It’s good for the game.”
Houston fans booing Bregman was a sign of respect for the All-Star third baseman, who’s made a habit of delivering in big moments throughout his career and did so again Monday night. The Astros got the last laugh, however, holding on for a 7-6 win.
As Bregman intimated, the stakes were also high for Monday’s game: Boston now holds just a 1.5-game lead over the New York Yankees for the final American League Wild Card spot, while Houston remains one game ahead of the Seattle Mariners atop the AL West after the victory.
The Red Sox and Astros will meet twice more on Tuesday and Wednesday, and you can expect Houston fans to treat Bregman like the enemy — which is just the way he likes it.
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