Abreu Quickest to 25 Home Runs
Jose Abreu a Chicago White Sox rookie says he does not want to take part in the Home Run Derby during All-Star weekend in July. He said he did not want to alter his power swing and affect his play at the plate.
However, every baseball fan there is wants to see the White Sox player compete. Regardless if he takes part or not in next month’s home run derby, he has been putting one on himself through the first half of the season.
On Friday night, Abreu hit his 24th and 25th home run of the season off R.A. Dickey the knuckleballer from Toronto. Abreu led the White Sox past the Blue Jays 5-4.
The White Sox are mired in last place in the American League Central, while the Blue Jays lead the AL East.
Abreu’s two home runs tied him with Edwin Encarnacion and Texas’ Nelson Cruz for the lead in the majors.
Abreu played many seasons in Cuba as a first baseman. In 2011, the slugger has 33 home runs in just 212 at bats. He played in Cuba with Yoenis Cespedes and Aroldis Chapman for the national team.
In August of 2013, he defected from Cuba and later signed a contract with the White Sox for $68 million over six seasons.
Abreu has become the most productive hitter for the White Sox. He is tied for the lead in the majors in home runs and leads in slugging percentage at .633
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His overall offensive numbers compare favorably with another great first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
This is Abreu’s rookie season even though he is 27. Earlier in the week, the Cuban slugger became the first player in the history of baseball to hit 23 homers in his first 65 games. On Friday, he became the quickest rookie to hit 25 home runs in just 67 games.
He is currently on pace to break the rookie record for home runs held by Mark McGwire with 49 which was set in 1989.
Abreu does not go up to the plate to walk. His has the lowest walk percentage amongst the players that are the most productive on offense.
Of course, at some point pitchers might learn to pitch to him. However, he has a 12-game hitting streak so power is not is only virtue.
Regardless of how the rest of his rookie season works out, he has become a fascinating storyline for baseball going into the second half of this season.
The biggest disappointment he may cause with baseball fans will be if he does not show up at the home run derby on All-Star weekend.
The season has not yet reached the halfway point, but Abreu has already proved that he is a dangerous hitter. He has caused the same amount of stir in the league this season as Yasiel Puig did last season as a rookie centerfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Let’s hope he can keep up his home run pace and catches McGwire as records are made to be broken.
