Jared Hughes walked out of a weight room inside the visitors clubhouse at PNC Park Tuesday afternoon, smiling and nodding his head while quickly walking past his locker stall.
He made a beeline toward a 12-year-old boy near a corner hallway, giving him a high-five and asking about his day.
The boy was Christian Hurdle, the 12-year-old son of Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. Christian excitedly asked Hughes how he's doing during his first season with the Brewers.
Hughes, who was released by the Pirates in March after six seasons as a reliever with the club, answered politely before quickly changing the subject to Christian. How was his school year, why did he have a sunburn on his cheeks, and of course, how is his father doing?
The light-hearted exchange lasted more than five minutes before Hughes gave Christian a hug and departed. It was the type of moment that was common during his time in Pittsburgh, and showed why he's still one of the most well-liked athletes this city has encountered.
"It's great coming back here," Hughes told DKPittsburghSports.com. "Going out on that mound, the backdrop, I've seen it a bunch. It's a setting I'm familiar with. It's nice to see everyone again. This city was so great to me."
Hughes has a unique childlike wonderment about him. The 32-year-old also has an affable personality, and beams when talking about his new home. The same goes for his old one.
He misses the city's skyline, the rivers that line it, the teammates who he shared so many memories with and friends who have made the trip to PNC Park to visit him during his trips here this season.
That's what made March 31, and the days that followed, so difficult. Hughes knew there was a possibility he could be released if his spring did not go well, and the right-hander allowed 12 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings.
With him set to make $2.85 million this season, the Pirates released him, a decision that seemed to be particularly difficult for Hurdle and Hughes' former teammates.
Several told reporters after his release how disappointed they were that Hughes was no longer there and his personality was very much a part of that.
Rob Scahill, a right-handed reliever for the Brewers, became friends with Hughes during his only season pitching for the Pirates in 2015, but he admitted he was "angry and frustrated" when Milwaukee announced it had signed him on April 2.
It meant Scahill was heading to Triple-A after an impressive spring, but he knew how much adding Hughes could mean for a roster with 12 players 27 or younger.
"He’s just a glue guy," Scahill said. "Not only is he a really good pitcher, he’s a really good clubhouse guy. He’s a really good personality to have in the bullpen. He keeps it light, he’s funny. He’s been around for a long time, so he has a lot of knowledge, too, to help guys."
Hughes immersed himself in Milwaukee. After doing charity work during his time with the Pirates, he has done the same in Wisconsin, including feeding children for the Salvation Army's Feed the Kids event last month.
Big thanks to @locatejared of the @Brewers, @MayorOfMKE and the Racing Sausages for being at our #FeedTheKids kickoff. pic.twitter.com/edEvgOB6pJ
— Salvation Army MKE (@SAmilwaukee) June 19, 2017
Every media member who covered the Pirates during Hughes' tenure will tell you he's a Good Dude. (Including our Matt Sunday and Matt Gajtka, who spent a day with Hughes this spring in Bradenton, Fla.) He was always approachable and insightful, and always happy to casually talk about baseball.
He's the same way with everyone he encounters. Hughes stopped near the first-base dugout to sign autographs before Tuesday's game. He stood near the bullpen in left-center field before Monday's game to chat with fans he had become familiar with during his time in Pittsburgh.
Hughes always seems like he's on Cloud Nine. He said that's a product of many talks with Ken Ravizza, a prominent sports psychologist who consulted with Long Beach State's baseball program during Hughes' time there from 2004-05.
His relaxed nature is why he thinks he has found a perfect fit with the Brewers.
"It is great," he said. "This is a great mix. I think I fit right in, because everyone is so happy to be here and that's one of my mottos, right, ‘glad to be here.’ You have to realize that you can’t ride that roller coaster. If you start focusing on the downs then you’re going to have a tough go at it. You have to hunt the good stuff."
Hughes has found the good stuff. Leaning on an improved slider, he has a 2.82 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP in 38 1/3 innings this season. But Brewers manager Craig Counsell said the impact Hughes has made on his club is immeasurable.
Hughes has been the leader of a bullpen that has the sixth-best ERA in the National League, offering advice to young pitchers and being the "glue guy" that Scahill described.
"I think he means a lot to any bullpen he’s in," Counsell said. "He is a glue guy. He cares about everybody in that bullpen. He takes time with everybody in that bullpen to try to make them better teammates, better pitchers and I think he’s done a great job. ... He’s on a pretty good run right now, so both in performance and what he’s meant to the guys he’s been a great addition."
He's also meant quite a bit to Pittsburgh and vice versa.
"This is such a great place with great people," he said.
Spoken like a Good Dude.