Jayson Werth couldn’t help but wonder.
Boos greeted Werth whenever he returned to Citizens Bank Park the last seven years after leaving Philadelphia to sign a $126 million contract with the rival Washington Nationals in 2010. Whether he deserved those boos from fans was always debatable.
So it was understandable Werth wasn’t willing to bet on the reaction he would receive from the Phillies crowd Sunday afternoon. Werth’s retirement from baseball in June presented a chance for him to be part of the organization’s celebration of the Phillies’ 2008 World Series championship team this weekend.
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“When I left, I absolutely knew what that meant,” Werth said before Sunday’s ceremony. “This is the first time coming in here with a totally different mindset in a long time. It’s good to be back.
“It’s the first time I’ve been here with a smile on my face for a while.”
Given what transpired after he signed his seven-year deal with the Nationals, Werth admitted it would be awesome if the crowd erupted for him when his name announced. As he emerged from the dugout armed with the red Hulk fist he wore at the World Series parade, a pumped-up Werth got his wish.
Phillies fans greet Jayson Werth with loud cheers as he’s introduced as part of the 2008 World Series championship team. Beforehand, Werth said it’d mean quite a bit and would be pretty special if he was cheered today. pic.twitter.com/1IZsOm2jdr
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) August 5, 2018
A scheduling conflict prevented Werth from arriving in Philadelphia until Sunday morning. That conflict? Playing in the Bluegrass World Series in Louisville on a team of other retired big leaguers. Founded by Adam LaRoche, the team plays collegiate and semi-pro teams. Chipper Jones and Johnny Damon were among Werth’s teammates in the tournament.
“No, we didn’t win,” Werth said. “Now I don’t know if I’ll ever do it again because of it. I got a call not long after I retired from Adam LaRoche. … You’re there for a week. It got a little bit long. Half the guys left after Friday so we were a little thin [Saturday] night.”
Werth is still trying to figure out what his post-playing career will entail. After he takes his son Jackson to California to play in some baseball showcases, Werth has nothing scheduled after August 20.
“I don’t know what I want to do,” Werth said. “It has been nice to have no stress, not worrying about going 0 for 4 and having three punch outs. Nowadays everyone is throwing sideway balls at 97-plus. That stuff is so far behind me now, it has been nice.”
Werth’s visit to Citizens Bank Park coincides with the Phillies trying to hold off the 39-year-old’s former team and Atlanta as Philadelphia attempts to win its first division title since 2011. Between signing a minor-league deal with the Mariners in March, playing 36 games at Triple-A Tacoma, and retiring seven weeks ago, Werth said he hasn’t watched much baseball. He smoothly avoided claiming an allegiance to the Phillies or Nationals.
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“I haven’t really paid much attention,” Werth said. “I check the standings every once in a while. But who I’m rooting for, I wouldn’t tell you if I was.”
Werth still has a strong connection to the Nationals, though, having played with a majority of their current roster. Impending free agent Bryce Harper is Werth’s most notable teammate. What happens if Harper reaches out and asks Werth about Philadelphia?
“I think he already has asked me about Philadelphia,” Werth replied.
Pressed for what he told the 25-year-old star, Werth smirked.
“Isn’t that tampering? It’s a great place to hit,” he continued. “I’ve always loved hitting here. I shared that among other things about this place. He’s a dynamic player for sure.”
(Top photo: The Phillies/Miles Kennedy)