Astros coach Hudgens on Mets: 'I'm pulling for them' in World Series

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 27: Curtis Granderson #3 of the New York Mets celebrates with Daniel Murphy #28 after hitting a home run in the fifth inning during Game 1 of the 2015 World Series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Before the Houston Astros brought Dave Hudgens on as hitting instructor prior to the 2015 season, he was the New York Mets' hitting coach for four years.

With that context, it's easy to see why he's rooting for the Metropolitans in the World Series that just began on Tuesday night.

Obviously, however, he'd prefer if the Astros were the club matching up with New York to really make things come full circle.

As Hudgens told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart this week:

McTaggart notes that Hudgens worked heavily with Mets stars David Wright, Lucas Duda and Daniel Murphy, so he has a sense of pride in seeing them excel on such a big stage:

Who knows - the Astros could very well be the club playing the Mets in the Fall Classic, had they held on to dispatch the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS. Instead, they'll have to regroup and try to make it back to the postseason in 2016 (something that should be within the realm of possibility, given their 2015 success).