Bobby Abreu
From BR Bullpen
Bob Kelly Abreu (El Come Dulce)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 200 lb.
- Debut September 1, 1996
- Born March 11, 1974 in Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela
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[edit] Biographical Information
Bobby Abreu is a veteran major leaguer who has a good lifetime batting average, great on-base percentage, good slugging percentage, steals some bases, and has good range in right field. Three of the most similar players to Abreu, based on the similarity scores method for his age through 2007, are Pedro Guerrero, Larry Doby, and Magglio Ordonez.
He was signed by the Houston Astros in 1990 and was with the organization until 1997. Bobby topped the Pacific Coast League in triples two years in a row at Tucson in 1995 and 1996. In the offseason he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with the sixth pick in the expansion draft. Abreu never played for the Devil Rays though because before the draft the Devil Rays and Phillies worked out a deal. If the Devil Rays picked Abreu, the Phillies would send shortstop Kevin Stocker to them. Stocker never panned out mostly due to injuries. But Abreu has two 30/30 seasons - he was also the first Phillie ever to accomplish a 30-30 season - and has 7 consecutive 20/20 seasons.
Abreu really just started becoming popular after starting in the 2005 All-Star Game and winning the Home Run Derby with a record 41 total home runs, with a record 24 coming in the 1st round. He beat Tigers' catcher Ivan Rodriguez in the finals.
Abreu is one of the most gifted players in the major leagues. He has power, speed and a superb batting eye. He prefers hitting third in the lineup instead of leadoff, despite a consistent .400 on-base percentage. Abreu has never been endeared to Philadelphia Phillies fans because he often takes called third strikes, especially in clutch situations, and does not appear to care enough about playing right field since he does not throw himself into the wall like former Phillie Lenny "Nails" Dykstra or current center fielder Aaron Rowand. Abreu's reasoning is that he does not want to be injured, and it seems to have worked since he rarely requests days off and plays in nearly all of the team's games.
Abreu was the only player in 2000 to have double figures in doubles, triples, homers and stolen bases. In 2002, he played 18 games in center field and looked more comfortable there than in right. He is kept in right field due to his powerful throwing arm and in fact won a Gold Glove there in 2005. That made him only the second Phillies outfielder to win the Gold Glove Award - the other being Garry Maddox, 23 years before.
Abreu was also one of the friendliest Phillies, and often helped out in the community.
On July 30, 2006, he was pulled from the lineup as rumors spread that he had been traded to the New York Yankees. The rumors were true, as Abreu was involved in a six-player trade, saying "To play with those guys -- Jeter, A-Rod and Giambi and those guys -- it's going to make me feel good". While his power and average have been down in 2006, he led the Major Leagues with 124 walks.
He has primarily worn number 53 during his career.
[edit] Quotes
"He reminds me a lot of Roberto Alomar in terms of having the most fluid, pure swing of guys I've played with." - Jim Thome
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 2-time NL All-Star (2004 & 2005)
- NL Gold Glove Winner (2005)
- NL Silver Slugger Award Winner (2004)
- NL Doubles Leader (2002)
- NL Triples Leader (1999)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 7 (1999-2005)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 2 (2001 & 2004)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 6 (2001 & 2003-2007)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 7 (1999-2002, 2004, 2005 & 2007)
