DETROIT -- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is a self-proclaimed Josh Harrison fan. In fact, Hurdle might be one of Harrison’s biggest fans.

But not this week.

Tuesday served as a reunion of sorts between Harrison and the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that he said will always hold a special place in his heart. The Pirates' 5-3 win marked the first regular-season game in which Harrison faced his former team since joining the Detroit Tigers this past offseason.

“We love Josh. But I hope to get him out every time he comes up to the plate,” Hurdle said. “And then we’ll pull for him like heck the rest of the season, until he comes to our place.”

A two-time All-Star, Harrison spent his first eight Major League seasons with Pittsburgh before agreeing to a one-year deal with Detroit in late February.

“There’s no question that I’ve got a lot of good friendships, but there’s no added motivation,” Harrison said. “As far as I’m concerned, they’re another opponent that’s trying to win a series.”

Despite a relatively slow start to the season for Harrison, Hurdle knows what the versatile utility man can bring to a clubhouse from their time together with the Bucs, and he said the Tigers will benefit from the knowledge and energy Harrison brings to the ballpark each day.

“He was a good man for us at the right time,” Hurdle said. “He provided a lot of value a lot of different ways. The family. The interaction of the community. We’re big fans.”

The feeling is mutual for Harrison, who was spotted chatting it up near Pittsburgh's dugout Tuesday with Hurdle and former teammates Josh Bell, Francisco Cervelli and Starling Marte.

“I’m a Detroit Tiger now, so these guys are my enemy,” Harrison said. “They’re my friends at the end of the day, but in between those white lines, they’re my enemy right now."

Departing Pittsburgh was a tough pill for Harrison to swallow. But the departure was seemingly softened when he reunited with Tigers shortstop Jordy Mercer, his teammate with the Pirates from 2012-18 and regular double-play partner for the last three seasons.

Mercer will miss the series against his former squad after he suffered a right quad strain Saturday, forcing him to be placed on the on the 10-day injured list.

“I told him and Jordy when they went over that they have the opportunity to live a fantasy. As a kid, I always wanted to wear the Old English D on my chest,” Hurdle said. “So I’ll have some envy watching them wear the uniform, but I’ll look forward to our guys getting them out.”

Harrison pieced together arguably his best season in 2014 when he batted .315 with a .490 slugging percentage, 13 home runs, 38 doubles and 52 RBIs en route to a ninth-place finish for the National League MVP Award.

In 2017, Harrison made his second All-Star appearance and he had a slash line of .272/.339/.432 with 16 home runs, 26 doubles and 47 RBIs.

“Clint was a guy that allowed me to be myself. I think that’s all guys can ask for when they get to this level,” Harrison said. “Being the young guy when I came up here, he instilled that in me to be me. And the rest is history.”

Odds and ends

• Right-handed reliever Dovydas Neverauskas was activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday and optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he had completed a rehab assignment. Neverauskas, 26, was placed on the 10-day injured list on March 28 with a left oblique strain. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Bradenton on April 7 and joined Indianapolis on Saturday. He worked a combined four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five.

• Relievers Steven Brault and Nick Kingham could possibly pitch simulated games if they do not make an appearance in the near future, according to Hurdle. Neither reliever has pitched in more than a week.