Bregman returns to Houston, having brought his winning ways to Red Sox

SAN DIEGO -- Inside the walls of Daikin Park, Alex Bregman has had season-defining hits, highlight-reel catches and October wins and losses that will never be forgotten.

It is a venue at which he has played 601 games (including postseason), compiling 2,160 at-bats, 375 runs, 581 hits, 125 doubles, seven triples, 106 homers and 357 RBIs to go with an .849 OPS that defines the rock-solid player he has been through his career.

But the one thing Bregman has never done at the home park of the Houston Astros is play for another team.

That will change on Monday night in what should be an emotionally-charged night that not only includes the return of Bregman, but also Carlos Correa playing his first home game with the Astros since he was reacquired from the Twins on July 31.

“I think it's going to be great,” Bregman said after the Red Sox closed their series against the Padres with a 6-2 loss on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park. “Two playoff teams getting after it. So I think it's going to be a really good atmosphere, for sure.”

Bregman helped create that good atmosphere in Houston for nearly a decade. It is far more than a coincidence that the Red Sox (65-54) are looking primed to get to the playoffs for the first time since 2021 in Bregman’s first season with the club.

“This kid, all he knows about August and September is [being in a pennant race],” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “I think he's impacting the guys in that clubhouse in terms of, ‘Stay in the moment, don't get ahead of yourself, don’t look around. Just stay here in the moment.’

“He's amazing. He's really good at what he does.”

The only hiccup for Bregman in his first season in Boston? A severe right quad strain that kept him off the field from May 24 to July 9.

Such was Bregman’s burning desire to return to his team that he skipped a Minor League rehab assignment. It is obvious by the way Bregman was running the first two to three weeks of his comeback that he could have been on the shelf longer. But that’s not how he operates. He is full speed ahead, whether it’s studying video in the clubhouse, pointing out adjustments for his younger teammates or just talking the game to anyone who is within earshot.

Bregman is all baseball all the time, and his reward is what is ahead. There are few players in baseball who love the stretch run more.

“It’s the best,” said Bregman. “You're in the hunt, right? So every day, showing up to the yard, and the way we've been playing, I mean, this group in here expects to win every single day that we show up to the yard. So it's a fun feeling. And we look forward to continuing it.”

When Bregman steps into the box for that first at-bat on Monday night against former teammate Cristian Javier, he will likely get a thunderous ovation. A moment for Astros fans to thank him.

“Hopefully, it’s a packed house for Alex,” said Cora. “He did some amazing things over there. Since Day 1 that he got there. I think his only struggles were his first 20, 25 at-bats in the big leagues. After that, just dominated the game. He impacted the community, he and [his wife] Reagan. They did an amazing job over there. It’s going to be a special one. No doubt about it, [the Astros and their fans] are going to do a good job with Alex’s return.”

And what part of the festivities is Bregman looking forward to the most?

“Just seeing the guys, seeing the people who work at the stadium, seeing the fans and playing baseball,” said Bregman. “And I look forward to going out there, competing with the guys and trying to get some wins.”