Gabe Kapler has been a good catch for the Milwaukee Brewers.

MCT / Benny Sieu

BOSTON — It was an interesting afternoon in the visitor’s clubhouse at Fenway yesterday.

Milwaukee is in Boston for the first time since the Brewers moved to the National League. For some of the Milwaukee players, it meant a chance to see Fenway for the first time. They took advantage of it.

A number of Milwaukee players came out early and gave themselves a mini-tour of the park. With no batting practice because of rain, the outfielders went out and threw balls against the Green Monster to try to learn how the balls bounce. A number of players opened the scoreboard door and went inside the wall to see what it is like there. Infielder Craig Counsell had his son with him and he took pictures of him in front of the wall.

There were some Brewers familiar with Fenway. Milwaukee has four former Red Sox players on its roster. David Riske, who is on the 15-day disabled list because of a hyperextended right elbow, went about work as usual without much notice. Jeff Suppan, last night’s scheduled starting pitcher, sat quietly at his locker, although several people did stop by to say hello and chat.

Reliever Eric Gagne, who had so many problems last season with the Sox, was not around much, although he did speak to reporters after a Brewers pitchers meeting. Gagne was presented his World Series ring from last season and spoke calmly about his experience with the Red Sox. Traveling secretary Jack McCormick made the presentation, without fanfare.

Then there was Gabe Kapler.

Rarely has any player been more popular with both the team and the Boston fans. Sox manager Terry Francona said that when he went into the weight room several hours before game time, a room open to both teams, Kapler was the first person he saw. That was something that happened often in the three years Kapler was with the Sox.

“He’s a welcome sight. I don’t care what uniform he wears,” Francona said.

The manager was not the only one happy to see him.

“I just got a chance to spend a little bit of time over in the Red Sox weight-training facility,” Kapler said. “It was good to see some old faces, shake some hands and give some hugs. I don’t know how emotional it is, but it certainly feels good. All I’ve ever felt being here is warmth, so it’s nothing new.”

Kapler, now 32, retired as a player last year. The Sox hired him to manage their Greenville, S.C., team in Class A.

But Kapler, who had been slowed by an Achilles tendon injury in 2005 and 2006, decided he wanted to get back to being a player. Sox officials did not oppose his decision.

“I feel like the Red Sox always have my best interests at heart,” Kapler said. “I think they understood it was a heartfelt decision, an intuitive decision.”

The Sox obviously respect Kapler.

“I don’t know that Gabe will ever do something that’s he not successful at. Whatever he does, he throws himself into it,” Francona said. “He’ll be good at whatever he wants to be good at.”

With Boston’s glut of outfielders, Kapler had to look elsewhere for a job. He signed with the Brewers.

He not only made the team out of spring training, he is hitting .284 in 67 at-bats, with four home runs and 13 RBI. He has an interesting take on going from player to manager and now back to player again.

“Last year really didn’t help me more than any other year, to be honest with you,” he said. “They all have equal value. Whether it’s been as a utility player, a starter, a manager, on good teams or bad teams, every year has equal experience value. Last year just added to that mix.”

He spoke about how much he cared for his young players as a manager, how he still keeps in touch with many of them. But he refused to say whether he hopes to manage in the future. He said he has learned not to think that far ahead.

“The one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that we all feel different at different times of your life. Maybe you shouldn’t try to predict the next 10 years of your life, try not to lay it all out in advance because you don’t know how you’re going to feel four or five months from now.

“I think that was my biggest learning experience. Now I feel like I understand that I’m going to feel different at the end of the season than I feel right at this moment,” he went on. “There’s no sense in trying to lay out some business plan for the rest of my life at this point.”

Right now, he appreciates being back in the big leagues. Being at Fenway Park, even if it is in a different uniform, makes it a good day for Kapler, even on a rainy day. Today

Brewers vs. Red Sox

3:55 and 8:35 p.m.

pkenyon@projo.com