## Mauricio Dubón’s Return to Oracle Park: Anticipating Heckles and Taking Aim at Former Manager
San Francisco, CA – Mauricio Dubón, the former Giants infielder, expressed his eagerness to face the jeers of his former home crowd during his return to Oracle Park. Dubón, who now plays for the Houston Astros, played for the Giants for parts of four seasons before being traded in 2022.
### Heckling Welcome
Dubón, who grew up a Giants fan, fondly recalled his time heckling opposing outfielders at Oracle Park as a child. He said, “I used to come here and (heckle) all the time when I was a kid.”
### Former Manager Criticism
Dubón’s return to San Francisco was marked by his criticism of former Giants manager Gabe Kapler. In his first game against his former team last year, Dubón accused the Giants of not treating him fairly. Kapler responded by stating that the club had provided Dubón with ample opportunities.
When asked about Kapler’s comments on Monday, Dubón clarified that his issues lay solely with the manager. “I tell people all the time: the person I didn’t like left already,” Dubón said. “For me, that was the only problem I had. I like the guys. I know last year, I didn’t phrase it well saying I wasn’t treated right, but I just didn’t like one guy. That’s it. I’m cool with all the guys over there.”
### Flourishing with Astros
Dubón’s departure from San Francisco has proven beneficial for his career. Under Astros manager Dusty Baker, he won a World Series in 2022 and a Gold Glove in 2023. Dubón is also experiencing his best offensive season to date, with a .297 batting average and an OPS+ of 107.
“You always want to do that with your childhood team and everything,” Dubón said. “Thank God it happened with the Astros. The Astros gave me a chance. Dusty gave me a chance. A Sacramento guy, San Francisco guy gave me a chance to show what I can do. … I’m grateful for the Astros for giving me a chance to go out there and show what I can do.”