Astros fans catch glimpse of champions at spring training

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The day started off raining, but the sun came out and lived up to Florida’s reputation as “The Sunshine State” as the Astros entered day four of spring training.

The team is playing at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and Monday afternoon beat the New York Mets in an exhibition game 8–7.

“It’s been fabulous, we’ve had the best time other than getting sunburned,” joked Jessica Perry, an Astros fan who traveled from Houston. “We got to meet the players, kind of interact with them up close and personal today, it’s been fantastic.”

It’s not just Houstonians who are rooting for the Astros. Since clinching the title of World Series champions, they’ve gained a lot of new fans.

“It’s really exciting, I’ve been really happy to be here,” said 6-year-old Kayla Brennan who is from Maine.

"Well, they won the World Series, so we were just really excited that they were here and fun to see,” said Kayla’s older sister, Brooke.

Spring training is an intimate setting where the fans get to interact with the players. The team is enjoying the energy, too.

"It's nice, just to get out there in front of the fans kind of feel the buzz a little bit,” said Astros pitcher Justin Verlander. "It's nice man you get out there you here all the fans cheering you hear all the positives and couple people are excited to get autographs all the things spring training is great for, a little more intimacy it's fun for us too."