Major League Baseball’s 10 Most Intriguing Players
By Lou Musto
Sep 20, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) singles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
9. Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox
Something tells me Abreu’s rookie campaign was only the tip of the iceberg for the Cuban product. The White Sox built this season’s team with the 28-year-old as the cornerstone for a franchise suddenly set to compete for the foreseeable future.
Abreu crushed it last season, hitting .317 with 36 home runs and 107 runs batted in. He led the league in slugging and OPS and was properly awarded as the AL Rookie of the Year for his dominance.
It was thought that teams might figure out how to stop him as the season wore on, but they never did and Abreu only got it better along the way. If his ascension continues, he could be a viable candidate to give Mike Trout a run for his money in the 2015 AL MVP race.