WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Spend any time around Astros camp this year and you can’t help but notice two players seemingly doing everything together. They arrive at the park at the same time, they play catch together, do their strength and conditioning work together and even have lockers next to each other.
Astros pitchers Bryan Abreu and Cristian Javier are practically inseparable.
They grew up in the same neighborhood in La Victoria, Dominican Republic and defied the odds to become big leaguers, realizing later in life they were neighbors as kids. Perhaps that’s why they’re so close today. Abreu and Javier know where they came from and how hard it was to get here.
“Baseball season makes friends become brothers and brothers become family,” Abreu said. “We spend most of the time together and have been able to create a really good friendship. We trust in each other, push each other and work hard. It means a lot to me.”
The stoic Javier, nicknamed “El Reptil” for his emotionless demeanor, flashed a rare smile when asked about his relationship with Abreu.
“We’re like brothers,” he said. “We’ve been together since 2015, and we’ve known each other since that time so we’re great friends. He’s like family to me. There’s a lot of love and a lot of respect for each other. He’s a great person and great friend.”
Abreu, 28, signed with the Astros in November 2013 at the age of 16 years old and has blossomed into one of the best setup men in baseball. He’s appeared in 317 games in relief for the Astros since 2019, posting a 2.65 ERA with 448 strikeouts in 329 2/3 innings. He had a 2.28 ERA in 70 appearances last year, and his 230 appearances combined in the regular season and playoffs are the most in baseball in the last three seasons.
Javier, 28, signed with the Astros in March 2015 at the age of 18. He was a key member of the Houston rotation from 2022-23, starting two combined no-hitters in ‘22, including one in the World Series. He underwent Tommy John early in ’24 and returned last year to make eight starts, going 2-4 with a 4.62 ERA.
Abreu first officially met Javier in ‘15 at a tryout camp in the Dominican Republic that included future big leaguer Enoli Paredes. But Abreu remembered seeing Javier in his neighborhood years earlier.
“I used to practice behind his house,” Abreu said. “We didn’t even notice that. We probably crossed paths on the road running or something, but we never knew that we were going to be meeting each other in the future.”
Abreu and Javier were tight with fellow Dominican pitcher Framber Valdez, who signed with the Tigers in the offseason. Latin pitchers Jose Urquidy and Luis Garcia were part of that group, too, but only Abreu and Javier remain in Houston.
“The beauty of it is they’ve always been really close and the group kind of grew, but they’ve always been the glue of that good relationship,” manager Joe Espada said. “Not only do they help each other on the field, but also off the field -- how to become good at what they do, but also how to be a good person off the field.”
Abreu is beloved by his teammates. He has to be on the short list of the nicest guys in baseball and is always eager to ask anyone he passes how they’re doing or give a fist bump. Javier keeps his head down and goes about his business, but Espada says he has a good sense of humor.
“But I think that’s what kind of works between the two that they’re both don’t really say much to one another, but when they do, they know each other so well, and it clicks,” Espada said. “It actually works out really well.”
As with so many great relationships, Abreu and Javier’s days together could be limited. Abreu is in the last year of his contract and figures to be one of the most coveted relief pitchers on the free-agent market next winter; Javier is signed with the Astros through 2028.
No matter what the future brings, they’ll remain brothers for life.
“It’s a privilege that God has given us both,” Javier said. “Literally, we come from the bottom, so to be able to be in the big leagues and pitch with each other and helps us provide not only for our families but for our communities, I feel very happy.”