BOSTON --- The stage was set last July for George Springer to play his first game at Fenway Park. His family and friends had all prepared to make the near two-hour drive from the Astros' right fielder's hometown of New Britain, Conn., to Boston.

And then, in the final game before the team's series against the Red Sox, a pitch from the Royals' Edinson Volquez broke Springer's right wrist, sidelining him for the next two months of the season.

"It was all in place and then I got hurt and everybody flaked on me," Springer joked Thursday afternoon, a few hours before taking the field for his actual first game at the historic ballpark where he attended games as a kid.

"It was all set up. My friends, my family still came. That was tough because I had just gotten hurt probably about five hours or so before the flight. It was tough, but I was able to get through it and come back (to the team) in September."

This time healthy, Springer had a large guest list for Thursday night's series opener in Boston - "People for days," he said - and his parents, George and Laura, will attend all four games the Astros are in town.

Growing up in an area split by Red Sox and Yankees fans, Springer always rooted for Boston. He said his parents took him to Red Sox games once or twice a month. The first one he remembers attending was the team's home opener in 1998, when Mo Vaughn walked off a Red Sox win with a grand slam.

"It's fun to have a shot to play close to home," said Springer, who played in 215 regular-season games as a big leaguer before taking the field at Fenway. "But you can't really think too much into it. You've just got to go out and play the game."