HOUSTON -- Astros shortstop Carlos Correa was preparing for his Major League debut in Chicago on June 8, 2015, when teammate George Springer, who was watching the MLB Draft on TV, saw that Houston had selected a shortstop from LSU with the No. 2 overall pick.
“Hey Correa, they drafted your replacement,” he joked.
The Astros moved that Draft pick, Alex Bregman, to third base, where he combined with Correa, Springer and second baseman Jose Altuve to form the core of an up-and-coming club that won the World Series in 2017. Bregman blossomed into a star and won two World Series titles in Houston before signing with the Red Sox prior to this season.
Correa, meanwhile, left the Astros for the Twins after the 2021 season, but never found the kind of team success he had in Houston. Last month’s stunning trade to bring Correa back to Houston made for a special homecoming Monday night at Daikin Park, where Bregman returned for the first time in a Red Sox uniform to face the Astros in their first home game since reacquiring Correa.
“I never thought I’d get a chance to put on this uniform again and I’m blessed that I get to do this again in front of all the fans here in Houston,” Correa said before the Astros' 7-6 win. “We’re very happy, to say the least. My whole family is super excited. It’s been a good week, and we just want to keep going.”
A packed crowd at Daikin Park gave Bregman a huge ovation about 15 minutes prior to the game after a tribute video of his career, which included eight trips to the postseason and seven consecutive trips to the ALCS.
“It feels great to be back,” Bregman said. “We landed last night and immediately went to Whataburger so I could get back into the Texas swing of things. It’s awesome. So many great memories, so much love for the people here in Houston – the fans, my teammates, the coaches, this entire organization. Just an amazing time here. I’ll be forever grateful to the Astros' organization.”
Bregman made himself at home when he clubbed a two-run home run in the first inning off former teammate Cristian Javier, who had a return of his own. He was making his first start in more than a year following Tommy John surgery. Bregman also singled in Boston's four-run seventh inning to finish 2-for-4 on the night.
But the loudest cheer of the day belonged to Correa, who waived his no-trade clause to return to the Astros, who took him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2012. He started at third base, the position Bregman held down in Houston for the previous 8 1/2 seasons. The crowd at Daikin Park was filled with No. 1 Correa jerseys. They erupted again when he knocked in a run with an RBI single in the third.
“Let me tell you, I was a very happy man walking down the tunnel again,” Correa said. “I walked it for the past three years and obviously, I was on the visiting side, but coming here as part of the home team, it’s a special feeling. It takes me back to when I was 20 years old and I took that walk and my dream was accomplished of becoming a big league player. But now we have new goals and we’re going to try to accomplish them.”
Correa’s wife, Daniella, and two sons were at the game wearing Correa City Connect jerseys. Correa said the boys were thrilled to find out their dad was going back to the Astros, where he had won a championship before.
“It’s a second chance to come back here and put on this uniform,” he said. ‘It’s a chance that I will never take for granted. I’m going to go out there and give it my best every single day that I go out there, but my wife took care of everything during the trade.
“I was on the road for 10 days and she packed everything up in Minnesota and shipped it over here, and she flew in with the kids and unpacked everything, so I got home and everything was ready to go. She did an amazing job. I got a good one.”
Bregman spoke fondly of his time in Houston, where he left as the best third baseman in club history. It was clear from his reception that he’s one of the most popular players in club history, too.
“A lot of good memories, but winning is special and to be able to go to the playoffs eight years in a row and make it to the ALCS seven in a row, four World Series and two world championships is special,” he said. “I’ll be forever grateful to this organization.”