Wilyer Abreu, an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, was originally set to sit out the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Rather, he came off the bench and provided a game-winning hit.
So, what did Abreu do in response during Game 2? The 25-year-old slugger simply drew attention with yet another impressive display.
Abreu remained on fire at the plate, hitting 2-for-6 with three RBIs while batting cleanup as the Red Sox crushed the Cardinals, 18-7, at Fenway Park to complete the series sweep.
Abreu’s impressive performance, which came after he faced a viral gastrointestinal illness at the beginning of spring training, secured him a spot in franchise history as well. As per J.P. Long, the Red Sox’s senior manager of media relations and baseball information, Abreu’s .483 batting average and .595 on-base percentage represent the peak figures for any Red Sox player in history after the first 10 games, with at least 25 plate appearances.
“I felt assured when I departed from spring training that I was fit and prepared for an excellent season,” Abreu shared with reporters after his game-winning hit through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez, according to MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “Clearly, this is much better than I anticipated.”
By the conclusion of Sunday’s blowout, Abreu was met with MVP cheers from the Fenway crowd as he stepped up to bat, and rightfully so. He sparked Boston’s offense in the bottom of the first with a solid single to right. In his subsequent at-bat the next inning, he hit a double into the left-center gap, extending the Red Sox’s lead to 6-1.
“Make sure to utilize the entire field,” stated Abreu, who similarly directed his walk-off hit to the opposite side. “It’s a tremendous asset — even more so here at Fenway as we aim to leverage the Monster to our benefit.” If I can maintain that consistently, it’s going to be an excellent year for me.”
However, Abreu simply didn’t accomplish it with the bat. He also tagged out Lars Nootbaar attempting to advance from first to third on a single by Willson Contreras in the top of the third. Abreu delivered a flawless throw to catch Nootbaar, as Alex Bregman didn’t need to shift his glove to make the tag.
“According to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, as reported by NESN, he dedicated significant effort during the offseason to improve his swing and physique.” “At this moment, his beginning is extraordinary.”
