A familiar face will be returning to Rate Field in September, only this time as a fan.
The White Sox announced that José Abreu will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on September 19th, ahead of the series opener against the San Diego Padres. The news comes shortly after the team unveiled a statue of Mark Buehrle, sparking the question: Should Abreu’s number 79 one day be immortalized on the South Side?
The short answer is a definitive yes.
For nine seasons, that number was a fixture at first base, worn by one of the most prolific and consistent hitters in franchise history.
On March 31st, 2014, a 27-year-old Abreu stepped into a major league batter’s box for the first time. It didn’t take him long to make an impression. The rookie from Cuba took the first pitch he saw and ripped it to right field for a double.
Nine years, 243 home runs, 863 RBIs, and 1,445 hits later, Abreu has collected an American League Rookie of the Year Award, 2020 AL Most Valuable Player honor, and three Silver Slugger Awards. The only thing missing from his trophy case was a World Series ring.
On March 31st, 2014, a 27-year-old Abreu stepped into a major league batter’s box for the first time. It didn’t take him long to make an impression. The rookie from Cuba took the first pitch he saw and ripped it to right field for a double.
Nine years, 243 home runs, 863 RBIs, and 1,445 hits later, Abreu has collected an American League Rookie of the Year Award, AL Most Valuable Player honor, and three Silver Slugger Awards for his trophy case. He is one of the most productive hitters in White Sox history. The only thing missing from his trophy case was a World Series ring.
It wasn’t for lack of trying on Abreu’s end. He was a stabilizing force of the White Sox lineup that captured the AL Central title in 2021, posting a .831 OPS with 30 homers and 117 RBIs.
While his home run and RBI numbers dipped during his final year in Chicago, he still managed to post a career-high in doubles while simultaneously producing the lowest strikeout rate in 2022. His 183 hits were also the second most in the American League, while his .304 batting average led the White Sox. The rest of the team around him faltered.
Lineup protection (or lack thereof), injuries, and organizational dysfunction never stopped him from producing. Abreu was as durable as they come. If you wanted someone to set an example and play with his heart on his sleeve, look no further than Pito.
Whenever the White Sox needed a big hit, he was there. Abreu made a name for himself in the clutch. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Abreu hit .310 with 264 RBIs and 33 homers. In close late-game situations, which usually come against his opponents’ best relievers, he logged 189 hits, 31 of which were homers.
Some of his most memorable moments include a walk-off grand slam against the Rays during his rookie season; hitting for the sixth cycle in franchise history during a 2017 game against the Giants; connecting for an extra-inning walk off homer against the Tigers in 2019; hitting three homers in a single game against the Cubs in 2020; launching a grand slam for his 200th career homer against the Twins in 2021, and becoming the first player in MLB history to homer in the state of Iowa during the inaugural Field of Dreams game that same season.
He ranks 14th in franchise history in games played, third in home runs, fifth in RBIs, fourth in doubles, and sixth in slugging percentage.
His play on the field was matched only by his impact off of it. Abreu helped recruit Luis Robert Jr. to the White Sox and was universally respected by everyone he has played with.
“He’s so much of what makes this team, this team, and he’s done just amazing things on and off the field ever since I’ve been here and had the pleasure of being his teammate,” Lucas Giolito told reporters after the 2022 season.
Even his successor at first base, Andrew Vaughn, shared a similar sentiment.
“You just gotta watch him,” Vaughn said in 2022 when asked about Abreu. “Watch what he does every day. It’s special, and it truly shows.”
If not for Jerry Reinsdorf, the White Sox may have moved on from the 36-year-old Abreu a year earlier. Back in October of 2022, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the White Sox’s decision to re-sign Abreu the last time he reached free agency was made by Reinsdorf. Following the 2019 season, the front office “was not 100% behind” the idea of re-signing Abreu to a long-term deal. This was despite the fact that he was coming off his third All-Star season and led the league with 123 RBIs. He had also hit 25-plus home runs and produced 100+ RBIs in five of his first six seasons.
Reinsdorf decided to take it upon himself to put forth the $50MM offer to Abreu after the slugger had accepted a one-year, $17.8MM qualifying offer. Abreu rewarded Reinsdorf’s loyalty by slashing .289/.366/.489 with a 137 wRC+. In 2020, he took home the American League MVP award. Abreu followed that up by hitting 30 home runs in 2021, then led the team with a .304 batting average in 2022. Last season, he also posted a career-low strikeout rate. It is arguably the best extension the White Sox have ever handed out.
Abreu embodied the city of Chicago. He was tough, hard-working working and talented. He led by example and let his game do the talking for him. While his teams never found much success, you cannot tell the story of the White Sox without Abreu in it.
