Davey Johnson and Bo Porter

Astros manager Bo Porter, who spent the previous two years as third base coach of the Nationals, was handing out handshakes and hugs Tuesday in his return to Space Coast Stadium — the Spring Training site of the Nationals — as manager of the Astros.

“It’s great,” Porter said. “I have a lot of friends over here, a lot of great relationships. It’s not like we’re being reunited. We keep in contact constantly and leading up to today. It’s great to be back and see a lot of these guys and they’ve got a good thing going on. It’s a good ballclub and they’ve got a chance to do something special.”

Porter took time at the batting cage to talk with several players and Nationals manager Davey Johnson, whom he considers one of his mentors. He also revealed he’s part of a book club with several players on the Nationals that stays in contact via email. In fact, Porter said the book club, which focuses on inspirational work, is more than 700 strong.

Porter, 40, was met by about 12 reporters from the Washington area and was asked if the chance to be a manager in the Major Leagues was everything he could have imagined.

“The energy has been great, the attention to detail has been great,” he said. “We’ve fallen behind and come and battled and battled and you see the intensity, you see the attention to detail and it’s good to see from a staff standpoint.”

Much more on Porter’s return to Viera, Fla., later.

Here’s the Astros lineup:

SS Tyler Greene

2B Jose Altuve

LF Chris Carter

1B Brett Wallace

CF Justin Maxwell

RF J.D. Martinez

C Carlos Corporan

3B Matt Dominguez

DH Marwin Gonzalez

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RHP Lucas Harrell (0-0, 3.60 ERA)