Red Sox expected to promote WooSox outfielder Wilyer Abreu
The Red Sox will activate WooSox outfielder Wilyer Abreu prior to the game in Houston on Tuesday, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.
Abreu has been tearing the cover off the ball the last month for Triple-A Worcester. He is batting .424, 25-for-59 with a .528 on-base percentage, .949 slugging percentage, 1.477 OPS, nine homers, four doubles, 25 RBI, and three steals in 17 games this month.
The 24-year-old will provide depth and protection in the outfield with Jarren Duran likely heading to the injured list. The Sox outfielder will have an MRI on Tuesday to check the severity of his injured left toe.
Alex Cora wouldn’t confirm to reporters that Abreu was going to be recalled following the game.
“We’re talking about it,” Cora said during his postgame press conference. “Jarren (Duran) is going to get an MRI tomorrow, see where we’re at and then we’ll decide what we do.”
Boston acquired Abreu and infielder Enmanuel Valdez as part of the Christian Vazquez trade last season.
Valdez has already made his major league debut and both players are on the Sox’ 40-man roster.
“It’s a kid that controls the strike zone,” Cora said about Abreu before Monday’s game to reporters at Minute Maid Park. “We knew that in spring training. Him and Valdez, one of the things they do is that. And that’s why they have quality at-bats. The power is the power. I don’t get caught up on that. The quality of the at-bats is what we like. Both of them, coming from here (Houston) and what they do in the minor leagues. That’s the thing they preach: control the strike zone.”
Abreu can play all three outfield positions and possess a cannon of an arm. WooSox skipper Chad Tracy has raved all season about Abreu’s strong throwing arm, particularly when he plays him in left field at Polar Park.
“He has made some good throws from right field; he just really has a great arm.” Tracy said. “It’s a strong accurate arm that stays low to the ground and seems to always perfectly one hop to the base no matter where he throws it from.”
This season with the WooSox, Abreu is batting .274 with 11 doubles, one triple, 65 RBI, and a .929 OPS in 86 games. Abreu has posted an impressive 16.3% walk percentage, walking 59 times this season.
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