A.J. Pierzynski chose not to pile on.
Pierzynski, now a member of the Atlanta Braves, returned to Fenway Park on Monday for the first time since the Boston Red Sox released the veteran catcher last season following a forgettable three-plus months with the organization. The 38-year-old didn’t leave Boston on the best terms last July, so one might expect him revel in the Red Sox’s current woes. Instead, he took the high road while discussing his former team.
“There’s no hard feelings between me and the Red Sox organization,” Pierzynski told WEEI.com after Monday’s game, which the Braves won 4-2. “I think people are expecting me to come in and (criticize). But I have no hard feelings. Things just didn’t work out the right way last year. And I ended up in a great place, in St. Louis and a chance to go the playoffs and that’s what it’s all about.”
Pierzynski, who’s long been one of Major League Baseball’s most polarizing players, hit .254 with four homers, 31 RBIs and a .633 OPS in 72 games with Boston last season before his release. He never quite fit in with the Sox, which was confirmed after his departure, when anonymous sources ripped the two-time All-Star in a report by WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford.
A lot has changed since Pierzynski left Boston. He spent the remainder of last season with the St. Louis Cardinals and later signed with the Braves over the offseason as the Red Sox completely revamped their own roster. Yet some things, like Boston’s misfortune, haven’t changed all that much.
“Yeah, we went through it last year and it was all blamed on me, which I thought was funny,” Pierzynski joked to WEEI.com in reference to the Red Sox’s struggles and the aforementioned report. “They have good players over there and they have good people over there and I wish them nothing but the best.”
Pierzynski gave the Red Sox a lot of reasons not to like him last season. He didn’t provide any more Monday, even though it was reasonable to expect a shot or two.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
