Jose Abreu is a veteran first baseman who has played in the Major Leagues since 2014. He has consistently performed for the Chicago White Sox, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in his debut season and earning three All-Star selections. He was, however, acquired by the Houston Astros via free agency while Houston’s previous first baseman, Yuli Gurriel, signed with Miami Marlins during spring training.
Although the Astros front office believed that Abreu would be a better option at first base than Gurriel, many fans are disappointed with Abreu’s performance so far this season.
Gurriel, a fan favorite in Houston, has been performing well for the Marlins with a batting line of .265/.286/.382, a .668 OPS, and an 81 OPS+. In comparison, Abreu has been struggling at the plate lately, batting .266/.301/.304, with a .605 OPS and a 72 OPS+. Moreover, Abreu comes with a heftier price tag, which has made some fans question the front office’s decision to acquire him.
However, it is essential to note that Abreu is still adapting to a new team and system, something he is not used to since he spent all of his career in Chicago before coming to Houston. It takes time for players to adjust to new surroundings, and Abreu is no exception.
Despite his struggles at the plate, Abreu has maintained his excellent fielding percentage of .987, which is still a dip compared to his other seasons at first base with the White Sox, but it is an encouraging sign nonetheless.
Abreu’s struggles at the plate could be due to several factors. For one, he may be feeling the pressure of playing for a new team and trying to live up to the expectations that come with a big contract. Moreover, Abreu is not getting any younger and may be showing signs of decline. However, it is still too early to make any definitive conclusions about Abreu’s performance this season.
It is also worth noting that Gurriel had his share of struggles last season, batting .242/.288/.360, with a .647 OPS and an 84 OPS+. In 545 at-bats, Gurriel had 132 hits with 40 doubles and only eight home runs.
While he has bounced back this season, there is no guarantee that he would have performed as well if he had stayed in Houston. Baseball is uncertain, and players’ performances fluctuate from season to season.
Overall, it is understandable that some fans are disappointed with Abreu’s performance so far this season. However, it is important to give him time to adjust to his new surroundings and see how he performs throughout the season. It is also important to remember that baseball is a team sport, and a team’s success depends on the performance of all its players, not just one. Whether it’s Abreu or Gurriel, the Astros will need all their players to perform at their best if they hope to make a deep postseason run.