Homecomings can be quite emotional. The memories made in a place and the relationships built there tend to combine to get everyone in their feels during return visits. This is true even in baseball.
When stars move on, whether through a trade or free agency, that first reunion at the old stomping ground is bound to be wrapped in a bundle of emotions -- for the player and the fans.
It all can make for a memorable scene. Remember Rhys Hoskins' first trip back to Philadelphia last season? Or Freddie Freeman's return to Atlanta in 2022?
The 2025 season has a number of series with an extra layer of intrigue because they'll feature players returning to their old homes for the first time. How will fans respond? A standing ovation? Boos? Polite applause?
Here are 11 series this season that could stir big emotions.
Red Sox at White Sox: Garrett Crochet returns to Chicago (April 11-13)
Crochet spent parts of four seasons with the White Sox, mostly as a reliever. But his conversion to starter in 2024 after recovery from Tommy John surgery came with a pretty epic breakout season that culminated in an All-Star appearance, 209 strikeouts in 146 innings and an AL Comeback Player of the Year Award -- and then a trade to Boston, where he headlines the rotation for an improved Red Sox team eyeing a return to the postseason. As things stand now, Crochet is in line to pitch in this series. So if he toes the rubber, you can bet the Chicago fans will remember and acknowledge the lefty's dominance last season.
Blue Jays at Orioles: Anthony Santander returns to Baltimore (April 11-13)
Santander seemed to get better and better in his time with Baltimore. His initial callup came in 2017, and he often provided solid-to-great offense when he was in the lineup, but starting with the 2022 season he began to establish himself as one of the more consistently impactful bats in the AL as the Orioles began their journey back to contender status. In his last three seasons in Baltimore, Santander averaged 35 homers and 95 RBIs as he helped lead the Orioles back to the postseason and continued to endear himself to the Charm City faithful. Last season, he slugged 44 homers, made his first All-Star team, earned his first Silver Slugger Award and received MVP votes ahead of a five-year, $92.5 million free-agent contract with the Blue Jays. Look for his return to Camden Yards be an emotional time for all.
Mets at Yankees: Juan Soto returns to the Bronx (May 16-18)
One could understand if Yankees fans don't give Soto a warm welcome after his one season in the Bronx that preceded a $765 million, 15-year free-agent contract with the crosstown Mets. On the other hand, it would also be easy to understand if they give him a thunderous ovation in his first at-bat. Soto put up a 7.9 bWAR All-Star campaign for the Yankees in 2024 and finished third in the AL MVP vote. But also, he provided one of the more dramatic moments in Yankees postseason history -- his epic 10th-inning at-bat and go-ahead three-run homer against the Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series that sent the Yanks to the World Series.
Blue Jays at Guardians: Andrés Giménez returns to Cleveland (June 24-26)
Almost immediately after a trade from the Mets to Cleveland, Gim¨Śnez established himself as a defensive wizard at second base and low-key superstar. In his first full season in Cleveland in 2022, he posted a 7.4 bWAR season, made the AL All-Star team and won his first of what would be three straight Gold Glove Awards. It all led to a seven-year, $106.5 million contract and a seemingly bright future in Cleveland. Though he continued to be one of the more valuable defenders in baseball during his last two years with the Guardians, his offense waned, which prompted the team to trade him to the Blue Jays after last season. But Cleveland fans loved Gim¨Śnez and many were sorry to see him go. He'll feel the love when he returns.
Cubs at Astros: Kyle Tucker returns to Houston (June 27-29)
Tucker's time in Houston was quite eventful. During his five seasons there as a full-time player, the lefty slugger averaged a 143 OPS+, made three straight All-Star teams (2022-24), won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award, played in three World Series, won the 2022 Fall Classic and became one of most feared bats in baseball. How valuable was he? Last season, he clubbed 23 homers and was worth 4.7 bWAR despite playing in just 78 games because of a shin injury. A trade to the Cubs ahead of the 2025 season -- his last before free agency -- meant Astros fans lost one of their key players in the middle of his prime. Given what he meant to the franchise this decade, he should be welcomed back enthusiastically.
Yankees at Braves: Max Fried returns to Truist Park (July 18-20)
Fried was one of the best starting pitchers in Braves history, pitching to a 3.07 ERA over his 151 starts and twice receiving NL Cy Young votes, including a second-place finish in 2022. He also tossed six scoreless innings in Game 6 of the 2021 World Series to help give the Braves their first title since 1995. Just how good was Fried in Atlanta? Only two other Braves pitchers have made at least 150 starts and had an ERA of 3.07 or better: Greg Maddux (2.63) and Warren Spahn (3.06). Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees in the offseason and now wears a different big league uniform for the first time. It's hard to say at this point whether Fried will be in line to pitch in this series, but Atlanta fans are likely to show their love if Fried takes the mound at Truist.
Astros at Diamondbacks: Christian Walker returns to Arizona (July 21-23)
Once Walker became a lineup regular for the D-backs in 2019, he quickly emerged as one of the team's most reliable offensive players, averaging a 115 OPS+ in his first six seasons with the team. After the COVID-shortened 2020 season and an injury-riddled 2021, Walker averaged 32 homers in his final three seasons in Arizona, won three straight Gold Glove Awards at first base and helped the D-backs advance to the 2022 World Series. That was an especially productive year for Walker, who hit 36 homers and had a 125 OPS+, both career highs. Those numbers helped land Walker a three-year, $60 million contract with Houston after last season. Despite Walker wearing a new uniform, the cheers for him should be plentiful upon his return to the desert.
Red Sox at Astros: Alex Bregman returns to Houston (Aug. 11-13)
Bregman was a mainstay of the dominant Astros teams that have made eight straight postseason appearances and won four pennants and two World Series titles during the past decade. During his time in Houston, he excelled as one of the best offensive third basemen in baseball and finished in the top five of AL MVP voting twice. He tended to shine in the postseason, too. Bregman hit 19 homers during the 20 postseason series in which he played for Houston, including three each in the 2019 World Series and 2023 ALCS. Though many expected him to ultimately re-sign with the Astros in the offseason, he opted for the Red Sox instead, signing a three-year, $120 million deal. Still, given what he meant to the Astros and their fans, it would be surprising if cheers don't dominate when he's introduced in that first game.
Yankees at Cardinals: Paul Goldschmidt returns to Busch (Aug. 15-17)
Goldschmidt spent six seasons in St. Louis, hit 153 homers, had a collective 130 OPS+ and won the 2022 NL MVP Award. Now, he'll visit St. Louis in a different uniform for the first time since 2018 after signing a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yankees. Though Goldschmidt never quite recaptured that MVP magic in St. Louis, given his overall on-field performance and his off-field charity work -- he was the team's Roberto Clemente Award nominee in 2024 (his ninth overall nomination) and received MLB's Lou Gehrig Award in February -- the St. Louis fans should give him quite the warm welcome.
Giants at Brewers: Willy Adames returns to Milwaukee (Aug. 22-24)
Adames gave the Brewers more than three seasons of slugging and solid defense at shortstop, which is exactly what they wanted when they acquired him in a trade with the Rays in May 2021. In his three full seasons in Milwaukee, Adames averaged 29 homers and 97 RBIs, and during his full tenure, he helped lead the Brewers to three postseason appearances in four seasons. Brewers fans loved him, but they sensed that 2024 was his last season in Milwaukee, which is why they gave him a standing ovation as he left the field during the final game of the season. He signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Giants in the offseason, but you can bet his return to Milwaukee will come with lots of love on both sides.
Tigers at Yankees: Gleyber Torres returns to the Bronx (Sept. 9-11)
After a strong start to his career with the Yankees -- a third-place AL Rookie of the Year finish in 2018, a 38-homer season in 2019 and back-to-back All-Star appearances -- Torres struggled with inconsistency on both sides of the ball over much of his remaining time in New York. Last season, he was benched twice -- once for performance issues and a second time for lack of hustle. But he did find his offensive stroke down the stretch, hitting to an .861 OPS over his last 35 games and contributing big hits in the postseason. Fans' opinions of Torres ebbed and flowed during his Yankees tenure, though he did receive a warm welcome from them in Spring Training.