Bagwell back around Astros for 1st time in 3 1/2 years

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) For the first time in 3 1/2 years, Jeff Bagwell is around the Houston Astros - at least until Saturday.

''I just want to get a feel for what's going on,'' Bagwell said Tuesday. ''I've had opportunities to go different places but this is my home. I'll just take it one day at a time.''

The Astros bring noteworthy alumni such as Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens and Craig Biggio, who are employed in their front office, to spring training to observe and advise their young players. Bagwell will do the same this week.

The Astros' leader in home runs (449), RBIs (1,529) and batting average (.297), Bagwell has been out of baseball since spring 2006 except for a brief time as Houston's batting instructor late in the 2011 season. He lives in Houston with his wife and five kids.

His exact role with the club remains undefined - certainly by the 46-year-old Bagwell.

''This is what I know and what I see, and I can help,'' he said. ''I wouldn't coach. A lot of people don't understand, these coaches spend a lot of time, it's like 11 to 11 every single day. I've got kids and they're in need of a father so I have to be around the kids.''

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Bagwell can definitely contribute.

''The thing that makes Baggy so unique is he could do just about anything,'' Hinch said. ''He could talk to the hitters, he could talk to our pitchers, to our first basemen, he could impact our baserunning. He was a terrific all-around player so there's really no aspect he can't contribute to.''

Biggio, a teammate of Bagwell for 15 seasons, will go into the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer. Bagwell plans to be at the induction ceremony.

A four-time All-Star who finished six times among the top 10 in National League MVP voting and won the award in 1994, Bagwell received support on 55.7 percent of the Hall of Fame ballots last winter, well short of the 75 required for induction.

''I didn't expect to get in,'' he said. ''I'm just glad Craig got in. It's about time.''

Nor does he dwell on the voter sentiment against him, some of which may be due to his power numbers coming in the steroid era.

''I keep telling people this and people don't understand me -- that's not what defines me as a person,'' Bagwell said. ''Baseball does not define me as a person. It's what I do with my kids, as a husband, that's going to define me.

''It'd be an honor, don't get me wrong. But I've got other things to do in my life, too.''

For this week, at least, he will be around the Astros complex, taking notes and perhaps dispensing advice.

''I'm really interested to see that kid -- what's his name, the shortstop?'' he asked. ''(Carlos) Correa. Yeah, I want to see him.''

Next week and beyond gets a little more fuzzy.

Astros officials and others reached out to him, Bagwell said.

''It basically came down to my wife,'' Bagwell said. ''She said, `I think you should go.'''