Xander Bogaerts Says Red Sox Fans Are 'More Intense' Than Padres Fans
Xander Bogaerts will appear in his first contest at Fenway Park as a visiting player on Friday during the San Diego Padres-Boston Red Sox game.
Xander Bogaerts Says Red Sox Fans Are 'More Intense' Than Padres Fans originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Red Sox welcome Xander Bogaerts and the San Diego Padres to Fenway Park on Friday afternoon for the 2026 home-opener at Fenway Park.
It's been over three years since Bogaerts left the Red Sox after 10 stellar seasons and signed with the Padres, but the four-time All-Star will finally get a chance to take the field in Boston for the first time as a visiting player on Friday. Bogaerts -- who was on the injured list when San Diego came to Fenway in June 2024 -- spent time this week reflecting on his tenure with the Red Sox. The 33-year-old discussed some of the differences between the two organizations with The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee .
"In Boston, it’s like they’re just used to playoffs all the time. ... You’ve won four times -- 2004, '07, '13, '18.
And here, they have never won. So you can see how much they want it. It’s just a lot of frustration for the fans.