Wilyer Abreu Explained

Wilyer David Abreu (born June 24, 1999) is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Career

Houston Astros

On July 2, 2017, Abreu signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent.^[1] He made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Astros. He advanced to Single–A in 2019, and Double-A in 2022.

Boston Red Sox

On August 1, 2022, the Astros traded Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez to the Boston Red Sox for Christian Vázquez.^[2] On November 15, 2022, the Red Sox added Abreu to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.^[3]

In 2022, he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League and posted a .167/.275/.204 slash line with 18 strikeouts in 54 at bats.^[4]

In a spring training game in early March 2023, Abreu suffered a left hamstring strain while running out a base hit against the Miami Marlins, following which Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he “will be out for a while.”^[5] On March 11, he was optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox. On August 22, Abreu was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Jarren Duran.^[6] Abreu made his major-league debut that evening, in a game against the Houston Astros, and recorded his first MLB hit.^[7] In late August, he spent time on the paternity list.^[8] Overall, Abreu appeared in 28 major-league games, batting .316 with two home runs and 14 RBIs. In 86 Triple-A games with Worcester, he batted .274 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs.^[9] He was also named to the post-season Triple-A all-star team.^[10]

Abreu spent the 2024 season with Boston, appearing in 132 games including 106 starts in right field. For the season, he batted .253 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs.^[11] Abreu was named the Fielding Bible Award winner among major-league right fielders,^[12] and the Gold Glove Award winner at that position for the American League.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu (From Christian Vázquez trade) swings to 'do damage' and serves as his own barber . August 17, 2022 .
2. Web site: Boston Red Sox trade: Who are prospects Enmanuel Valdez, Wilyer Abreu from Christian Vázquez deal? . August 2, 2022 .
3. Web site: Versatile No. 3 prospect highlights Sox's 40-man adds . .
4. Web site: Dalton Guthrie College & Minor Leagues Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com.
5. Web site: Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu: Leaves with hamstring strain. March 12, 2023. cbssports.com. en.
6. News: Red Sox injuries: Jarren Duran placed on 10-day IL; Tanner Houck to make first start since June 16 . Conor . Ryan . . August 22, 2023 . August 22, 2023.
7. Web site: Wilyer Abreu's first career hit . MLB.com . . August 22, 2023 . August 22, 2023.
8. Red Sox Announce Roster Moves . MLB.com . Boston Red Sox . August 28, 2023 . August 28, 2023.
9. Web site: Wilyer Abroad Winter, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics . . October 21, 2023.
10. News: Red Sox Rookie Named To Post-Season All-Star Team . Keagan . Stiefel . . October 4, 2023 . October 21, 2023.
11. Web site: Wilyer Abreu stats . . October 25, 2024.
12. News: 2024 Fielding Bible Award Winners . Mark . Simon . sportsinfosolutions.com . October 24, 2024 . October 25, 2024.
13. News: 14 first-timers highlight 2024 Gold Glove winners . MLB.com . November 3, 2024 . November 3, 2024.