Jacoby Ellsbury: ‘A Lot Of Great Memories’ Of Time With Red Sox

Jacoby Ellsbury got his first glimpse of the Boston Red Sox as opponents Tuesday in Tampa.

Ellsbury wasn’t in the lineup for the first Red Sox-New York Yankees matchup of the spring as he nurses a strained calf, but he did get the chance to say hello to some of his former teammates and coaches during batting practice.

“It will be the first time in nine years since I wore the uniform, seven in the big leagues. It will be a little different looking across,” Ellsbury told reporters before BP, via The Boston Globe. “I’ll see a lot of familiar faces. Obviously the coaches will make the trip, so I’ll see a lot of those guys and say hello to them. It was a great time, a great seven years that I spent there.”

The center fielder said he remains in touch with many teammates from last season’s World Series team, and that he made it clear he would have been happy to return to Boston after hitting free agency this past offseason.

“(The Red Sox) knew I enjoyed playing there,” he said, via WEEI.com. “They definitely did.”

Ellsbury has gone 4-for-23 with two doubles, a home run, five walks and five runs scored in nine games with the Yankees this spring.