It’s that time of the year again—when grills sizzle, flags fly high, and skies light up in red, white, and blue. As America dives into the 4th of July celebrations, the MLB world is feeling the heat, too. While Alex Bregman may not be launching home runs for the Red Sox just yet, he’s still making headlines—this time off the field. From the sidelines, the star third baseman is joining millions in celebrating Independence Day, sharing a heartfelt message full of pride and patriotism. And honestly? Fans couldn’t have asked for more.

Ever since Boston signed the third baseman from the Houston Astros this offseason, the city has welcomed him with open arms. The injury news caught everyone off guard, including Bregman. As the Red Sox go through a concerning slump and postseason dreams begin to dim, all fans hope for is a possible return so he can pick up right where he left off. Even though sidelined, Bregman always finds himself in the news headlines, with interviews and reactions—and this time, he took to X to celebrate the annual American federal holiday.

Bregman took time to wish his fans on America’s special day. “Happy 4th of July!!!!” Bregman posted on his official X page, followed by some US flag emojis, with pride and love for the country evident in those five words. The 31-year-old didn’t stop there—he also shared a story, sending wishes. He posted a video celebrating the country’s pride with the caption “Happy 4th of July” there too. Not only Bregman, but even the Red Sox team joined fans in the celebration.

The team’s official X handle posted a photo and wrote, “Have a happy & safe 4th, Red Sox Nation!” in the caption. The team is far from the .500 status they once held and has now slipped to fourth place in the AL East Division with a 44-45 record. That’s not how anyone imagined this season would look when it began, but there is still time to turn it around if they play it right. And the player who can bring back hope to Fenway Park? Yes, it’s Bregman, as he remains the sole savior of the Sox lineup, especially after the Rafael Devers trade.

Bregman has all it takes to keep the team from derailing further if he returns in form after rehab. Not only is his return from the injury list in focus, but his future with the team also hangs in the balance. His three-year, $120 million contract includes an opt-out clause, and if he chooses, he becomes a free agent this offseason. The Red Sox Nation is well aware of what this could mean, and their concerns were clearly visible in the comment section.

As speculation swirls about both his recovery and his contract decision, fans are watching Bregman’s every move—on and off the field—hoping for signs of his commitment to Boston. His 4th of July wishes, and fans reacted warmly, hopefully.

MLB World Reacts to Bregman’s Message

Alex Bregman is not someone who is constantly active on socials, but in his first year as a Sox, this Fourth of July might be special. A new home in Boston, a new fanbase showering him with love, hoping he chooses to stay, and it was evident even in the comment section of his X post.

“Happy Independence Day! Stay in Boston, it’s the world’s greatest city,” one fan wrote. With rumors of a possible opt-out surrounding the team, this reads as a plea filled with love. Even though he recently said, “We’re open to listening to anything that they have to say,” to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo regarding his long-term future in Boston, the talks haven’t died down. Even his agent Scott Boras opened up about their wish to talk to the team about a possible extension. The team hasn’t made any confirmations yet, and fans have every reason to be worried.

“Happy 4th… Sign an extension… Now that would be some fireworks,” another fan wrote. It’s clear—that’s the one bit of news that would truly make the fans happy. While the star has expressed his wish to stay long-term, insiders believe it won’t be an easy task. To get it done, the belief is that owner John Henry might have to override his front office. “The belief here is they’d have to offer the $184M Bregman countered to Detroit (or maybe even $200M) to get it done,” Jon Heyman wrote recently. With the trade deadline just four weeks away, rumors of a possible trade are also swirling. All of this just adds to the mounting concerns of Sox Nation, especially with a season already slipping away.

While some fans worry about his extension, others are concerned about his injury. “Hope your recovery is going well. We need you out there bad,” another fan wrote. The right-hander went on the IL with a quad injury and was hitting .299/.385/.553/.938 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs across 51 games before being sidelined. That stat line shows what the team is missing—and the return of the veteran at third base could heavily contribute to solving the Sox’s issues.

“Happy 4th!! Hope you can make it back before the break this upcoming week; you & Masa Yoshida!!” another fan wrote. Bregman has been working hard on his recovery and remains hopeful for a speedy comeback. “I feel really good. Today was the best that I’ve felt during the rehab process; it was the fastest I ran,” he told MLB.com recently. But the possibility of returning before the All-Star Game remains slim. As for Masataka Yoshida, he has just kicked off a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester, and the Sox could hear good news about him soon. If both players return in time, flipping the season script may not be entirely off the table.

Fans still remain hopeful. “Come on back and let’s get that WC spot!” one fan wrote, and it’s easy to understand why. Despite missing over 30 games, Bregman still ranks among the Red Sox’s best for certain team stats. His .299 batting average was tied for the best with Devers, and his .553 slugging percentage was second-best before the injury. Even while sidelined, he ranks third in home runs and fourth in RBIs for the team.

If the Red Sox manage to sign him long-term, he could become the answer the team is looking for—and that’s what the fans are clearly hoping for. All they want now is for both parties to reach a deal that benefits everyone. Including them. But will big news hit before the trade deadline? Well, we might get our answer in just a few weeks!