Let’s say this for New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo, he doesn’t mind being the villain.
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 stood out for his intensity and his solid bat.
He brought both for Friday’s game, when he homered on his first pitch off former teammate Brayan Bello. After hitting the ball 406 feet into the center field bleachers, Verdugo made sure everyone knew it as he rounded the bases (video above).
It is difficult to understand what Executioner was shouting, but veteran Jomboy lip reader He interpreted it as “HELL YEAH, LET ME HEAR IT.”
Verdugo came to New York last offseason in exchange for three pitchers (Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice) in just the eighth trade between the Yankees and Red Sox of the divisional era (since 1969). The trade has worked out decently so far for Boston, as Weissert has a 2.83 ERA in 29 appearances so far this season.
In fact, Verdugo struck a conciliatory tone entering the game, praising Fenway Park and expressing curiosity about its reception. Of Chris Cotillo of MassLive:
“Part of me is excited,” Verdugo said during a conversation at Yankee Stadium over the weekend. “That’s my favorite stadium and it still is to this day. I love the atmosphere, I love its design. I also have many friends on that team. Being able to see them will be refreshing and nice to see them again. But I’m also excited to play. I know when the game starts, he will compete like no other. I remember him from that side, being with the Red Sox. I hope it is the same way.
“I’m curious to see how the fans take it, what the first greeting is like, I guess,” he added. “I’m open to anything 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 next pretty funny.
