Former Dodgers star Alex Verdugo heads into the World Series with mixed emotions, but particularly motivated for the Yankees to win

First pitch of the highly anticipated World Series matchup between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers is scheduled for tonight at 8:08 p.m. ET.

Alex Verdugo will be wearing pinstripes tonight, but the Yankees star's run to the outfield at Dodger Stadium will likely bring back memories of his time with the Dodgers.

Verdugo made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2017. By all accounts, Verdugo's three-year run with the Dodgers was successful. But the team included him in a trade that sent him to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Mookie Betts in 2020.

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New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo on the field during a practice at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on October 24, 2024. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

“I was upset. It was pretty clear to me that I didn’t want to go anywhere,” Verdugo told reporters on Thursday. “I understood it from a business perspective and all, but it hurt me quite a bit.”

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A look back at events from a few years ago could give Verdugo additional motivation heading into the World Series.

“You want to win and kind of show them, 'Hey, you got rid of me, and maybe it wasn't the right decision,'” he said.

While Verdugo has faced the Dodgers several times since the trade, Friday night's game will be his first with a visiting team at Dodger Stadium.

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Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Alex Verdugo hits a double in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on July 31, 2019. (Isaiah J. Downing/USA Today Sports)

Verdugo admitted he will have mixed emotions on Friday.

“It’s special to finally come back here and play in front of this crowd,” he said. “This fan base has shown me nothing but love. … It will feel good to come here and play in front of the Dodgers crowd again. Just feel this atmosphere. That was one thing about playing here.”

“I'll go over this in my head a few times. Part of me wants to understand a little bit, 'Hey, man, welcome back,' and then it's like, 'Okay, it's the World Series, we're going.' to boo you.' We'll see. At the end of the day I love this palace. Nothing will change the feeling when I was here.

New York Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo answers questions during media day before Game 1 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on October 24, 2024. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)

After a four-year stay with the Red Sox, Verdugo landed with the Yankees in December.

Verdugo has endured a slow September and has been playing well of late. He expressed his appreciation for the Yankees' support during his struggles and praised manager Aaron Boone for giving him the confidence he needed.

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“Of course I thought it was the right decision,” said the 28-year-old Verdugo. “The fact that (Boone) kind of stuck with his guys and relied on experience was great for me. He gave me the confidence I needed to come through, get a few big hits here and there and a few key RBIs.”

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