Say this for New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo: He doesn’t mind being the bad guy.
The 28-year-old returned to Fenway Park on Friday for the first time since the Boston Red Sox traded him to New York in a rare rivalry trade. Verdugo played four seasons in Boston, where he was known for his intensity and a solid bat.
He brought both for Friday’s game, when he homered on his first pitch to former teammate Brayan Bello. After sending the ball 450 feet into the center field stands, Verdugo made sure everyone knew as he circled the bases (video above).
It’s hard to make out what Verdugo was shouting, but veteran lip reader Jomboy interpreted it as, “Hell yeah, let me hear it!”
Verdugo arrived in New York last offseason in exchange for three pitchers – Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice – in just the eighth Yankees-Red Sox trade of the division era (since 1969). The trade has gone quite well for Boston so far, as Weissert has a 2.83 ERA in 29 appearances.
Verdugo actually struck a conciliatory tone entering the game, praising Fenway Park and expressing curiosity about its reception. From Chris Cotillo of MassLive:
“Part of me is excited,” Verdugo said during a conversation at Yankee Stadium this weekend. “That’s my favorite ballpark and it still is to this day. I like the atmosphere, I like the layout of it. I have a lot of friends there on that team too. It will be refreshing and fun to see them again. But I also feel like playing. I know when the game starts it will compete like no other. I remember it from that side, when I was with the Red Sox. I expect it will go the same way.
“I’m curious to see what the fans think, what the first greeting is like, I guess,” he added. “I’m open to whatever they do. … It’s going to be a very personal series just because I was with them for the last four years. But I’m excited about it.”
That made what happened quite funny.
