There was Xander Bogaerts, standing on the top step of the Red Sox dugout four hours before the game on Friday talking baseball with Alex Cora and offering some advice to Ceddanne Rafaela.
The temptation was to start this paragraph with “just like old times.” But that wouldn’t be true.
Bogaerts was wearing a brown San Diego Padres cap and had just finished working out on the field with a different set of coaches. Cora is his friend now, not his manager.
These are very much new times for Bogaerts.
The fresh-faced shortstop from Aruba is now a 31-year-old second baseman on the injured list with a fractured left shoulder who lives with the expectations that come with a $280 million contract.
Bogaerts will have a CT scan on his shoulder on Monday and could go on a rehab assignment soon after. He still feels some discomfort but knows he needs to get back on the field as soon as possible.
Playing shortstop was a point of pride for Bogaerts, who proved he wasn’t too big to play the position. Like most shortstops, he expected he’d have to switch positions at some point but not in the second year of his new contract.
“It was tough, mostly like physically, the daily grind,” he said. “Now I feel much better with the time off … But there were a lot of tough days waking up. It wasn’t fun.”
Bogaerts hoped to be ready to play against the Sox. He settled for coming to Fenway Park to watch the three-game series. His teammates beat the Sox, 9-2, in the opener.
Cora keeps in touch with many of his former players. He was glad to have the opportunity to catch up with Bogaerts in person.
“He’s a special kid,” Cora said. “You know, the way he handles himself, the way he goes about his business, is up there with the best of them. I know he cares about the Red Sox; he cares about the organization. He cares about me, which is very important for me, and I’m happy that he’s here.
Cora said his favorite memory of Bogaerts as a player was the two-run homer he hit off Gerrit Cole in the first inning of the 2021 wild card playoff game against the Yankees at Fenway.
“That wild card game was probably the loudest I played at Fenway,” Bogaerts said.
Bogaerts smiled at the mention of taking Cole deep. But he believes the biggest hit of his career was the game-tying single in the eighth inning of Game 3 the 2013 World Series against the Cardinals.
The Sox lost the game on that wild obstruction play in the bottom of the ninth. But for Bogaerts, a 21-year-old rookie at the time, that hit was proof he belonged.
Bogaerts walked around Boston a bit on Thursday and was surprised by how often somebody stopped him on the sidewalk or said hello.
“It was crazy,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting so many people to still remember me.”
There was a different emotion on Friday when he got to Fenway and took a left to go to the visitors’ clubhouse instead of heading to his locker on the home side.
Being the opposition felt strange at the park he once called home.
“This is all new for me,” Bogaerts said. “But a lot of the same people.”
The Red Sox paid tribute to Bogaerts after the first inning, showing a highlight video of his accomplishments. There were clips of big hits, World Series celebrations and other special moments.
Bogaerts popped out of the dugout and tipped his cap to all corners of Fenway while soaking in the applause.
It has become a familiar ritual at Fenway. Mookie Betts received a hero’s welcome when he came in with the Dodgers last season. Chris Sale had his moment — although not nearly as raucous — in May when the Braves came to town.
Bogaerts has stopped wondering why there wasn’t a different outcome. He was told early in his career that baseball was a business.
“What can I say, man? I’m happy and I feel like they’re happy, too,” he said.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him @PeteAbe.