HAPPY REUNION
Being back in Houston brings ‘a wild ride of emotions’ for Philadelphia’s Stubbs
It’s not quite a revenge tour for Garrett Stubbs, but the postseason has brought something akin to “This Is Your Life.”
In the National League Championship Series, the Phillies catcher and San Diego native was pitted against his hometown Padres.
Now in the World Series, he’s facing the Astros, who drafted him out of USC and gave him his first taste of life in the big leagues before trading him to Philadelphia last offseason for minor league outfielder Logan Cerny.
“It’s kind of a wild ride of emotions,” Stubbs said this week. “My family, although not too split between us and San Diego, was definitely rooting for the Phils more. They felt there was a win-win situation there — if we win, that’s their first choice to go to the World Series, and if the Padres win, then they get to root for San Diego in the World Series.”
This week’s trip to Houston isn’t Stubbs’ first since leaving the Astros. The Phillies and Astros met in the final series of the regular season. Stubbs was presented his American League championship ring from last season, and after the Phillies clinched the National League’s last playoff spot, he had a message for his former teammates.
“I’m pretty sure I said to pretty much everybody, ‘See you in the World Series,’ ” Stubbs said. “It was pretty fun (to clinch in Houston). The nostalgia kind of hit me then more than it does now. It was good to have gotten back here and seen some of the guys once before and gotten to talk to everybody and say hello.”
His favorite memories of his eight seasons in the Astros organization?
“Winning all the time,” Stubbs said. “I love to win and there’s nothing better. You kind of see it during the Champagne showers. There’s literally no better feeling or no more fun thing to do than popping bottles. Those are my best experiences.”
Drafted in the eighth round in 2015, the 29-year-old Stubbs in the minors made himself into the kind of versatile player Houston prizes, playing catcher, first base, the outfield and second base at various stops. In the majors, he’s seen time behind the plate as well as in the outfield and infield, and he even pitched four times this season for the Phillies.
“We like him as a player and we like him as a teammate,” Astros second baseman Jose Altuve said. “He did a great job here and we’re happy he’s in the World Series with the Phillies.”
Stubbs had limited big-league stints from 2019-21. His Astros tenure ended with an appearance as a defensive replacement in the 2021 season-ending World Series Game 6 loss to Atlanta.
“A pretty amazing experience,” Stubbs said. “My family was there. It was unfortunate that we were down at the time I was getting in there. But I remember being in the dugout after my defensive inning and being up in about six batters and thinking to myself, ‘If I do get up this inning, it’s going to be in a huge spot.’
“Unfortunately, I didn’t end up getting (to hit), but being able to look up to my family and know that I was playing in (a World Series elimination game), it was a pretty cool experience and one that I get to take with me forever.”
Backing up J.T. Realmuto, arguably the majors’ best catcher, Stubbs is a long shot to see much action in this World Series. But for the Phillies, he’s been a valuable source of intelligence about his former club.
“It was kind of nice to know the other team so well,” Stubbs said. “It’s cool to be back in the ballpark and kind of help out (since) there’s some weird dimensions. It’s cool to be able to help out as much as possible.”