Chicago White Sox Jose Abreu: The Hits Just Keep Coming
By Bill Pivetz
The Chicago White Sox struck gold with Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu. He followed his rookie season with a great sophomore season. The ceiling is high for him in 2016.
The Chicago White Sox superstar first baseman Jose Abreu has had a great first two seasons of his career. The numbers have been insane and helped out a lot of fantasy owners along the way. With the pitching the way it is in the American League Central, Abreu should be able to have yet another successful season in 2016.
Jose Abreu began his career with the White Sox on the Opening Day roster. Despite missing 14 games with a left ankle injury, he was able to win the AL Rookie of the Year. After 145 games, he hit 36 home runs, 107 RBI, and a .317/.383/.581 line. After his successful first season, fantasy owners wanted a piece of Abreu early in 2015.
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He was a first-round pick in most fantasy leagues last season, 9.2 ADP. He played in nine more games, but his six fewer home runs, six fewer RBI and lost 27 points on his batting average. He did score eight more runs and had two more hits. Because of the lowered power numbers, he dropped in rankings. Abreu finished the 2015 season as the 42nd-best player and seventh-best first baseman on the Player Rater.
His ground ball rate dropped 1.8 points, his hard hit rate dropped two points and his walk rate dropped 2.4 points. All of which results in a lower batting average and on-base percentage compared to his 2014 numbers.
Jose Abreu’s 2015 season got off to a slow start. At the end of May, he had just eight home runs, 29 RBI and a .282 average. In the first half of the season, he was tied for 34th in home runs and 40th in RBI. Post All-Star break, he hit 16 home runs (12th) and 55 RBI (eighth).
Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing this kind of production for long from Abreu. He turns 29 on Jan. 29, so the prime of his career is coming to an end. If you play in a redraft league, he’s definitely worth drafting within the first 20-30 picks, but his value does take a hit in keeper or dynasty leagues.
Despite finishing behind Eric Hosmer on the Rater, Jose Abreu is the best first baseman in the AL Central. The pitching in the division is not the best, two of the teams finished in the bottom half of ERA and WHIP. His teammates may not be able to support him and the pitching, but Abreu does a very good job of driving home whatever runners he can.
Projections: 163 hits, 33 home runs, 100 RBI, two seals, .294 batting average.
Draft: Round 2