Jose Abreu is taking his bid at an MLB comeback seriously. The former White Sox first baseman reported to the Puerto Rican Winter League this month after signing with the San Juan Senadores and is already turning heads.
On Wednesday Abreu woke up as the league leader in home runs and RBIs. In just six games has already amassed four home runs and ten RBIs and helped lead San Juan to a 4-2 record. According to MLB insider Francys Romero, his early performance could have him close to signing an MLB deal in the coming days.
Things did not go well for Jose Abreu in 2024. Despite only being in the second year of his three-year $58.5 million deal with the Astros, the 37-year-old first baseman was sent down to the minor leagues and then later released by the Astros.
It was an uncharacteristic season for Abreu who was a staple in the White Sox lineup for nine years. During his near-decade on the south side, Abreu was a model in offensive production making three All-Star appearances winning three Silver Slugger Awards, 2014 Rookie of the Year, and 2020 AL MVP. During that stretch, he slashed .292/.354/.506 with six 100-plus RBI seasons and hit 243 home runs, third most in White Sox history.
On paper, the move to Houston was a perfect fit for Abreu. He was in a winning environment with battle-tested veterans and plenty of lineup protection. It also allowed him to play in a dome, which was significant because the bulk of his struggles in Chicago came in the first few months of the season when the weather was cold. Unfortunately, things quickly went from bad to worse.
Abreu had the worst season of his career in 2023 hitting .237 with a 21.9% strikeout rate. The following season his walk rate plummeted to a career-worst 3.3% while his strikeout rate increased to 23.3%. Meanwhile, his power also evaporated. Abreu posted a career-worst .195 slugging percentage with just two home runs in 120 plate appearances. Even after getting sent to the minor to work on his game he still only managed to hit .120 with the Astros forcing the front office to cut their losses.
Seeing that he will be 38 at the start of next season, it seems unlikely that he will return to form. However, he has been touted as a mentor to younger players and leads by example with his toughness and effort on the diamond. That and his impressive track record may be enough for a team to take a flier on Abreu given his early production in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
