CINCINNATI – Just like in the Opening Series last season at Texas, Wilyer Abreu was the bat that stuck out for the Red Sox this weekend, even as they lost two out of three at Great American Ball Park, capped by Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to the Reds.
But there is a growing belief within Abreu, manager Alex Cora and many others in the Boston clubhouse that there is something different about the way the left-handed hitter has come flying out of the gate this year.
There is a foundation in place that could lead to Abreu having a breakout third full season in the Majors.
“He’s looked this way before, and then he was able to come out of the gate swinging the bat well. But I think this is sustainable,” Cora said. “He has a good knowledge of his swing and what the opposition is trying to do. We’ve just got to keep getting him more at-bats, especially against lefties, and see where it takes us.”
In these three games in Cincinnati, Abreu went 6-for-13 with two doubles, two homers and four RBIs. While torching the Rangers in Texas to start last season, Abreu went 7-for-10 with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs.
But this feels different for Abreu, who shed several pounds in the offseason while also continuing to refine his swing mechanics.
“Yes, a little bit [different], because I know myself a little better this year than last year, so I know how and when I have to do damage, and when I have to just put the ball in play and see what happens,” Abreu said.
That was clearly on display on Sunday. With the game scoreless in the fourth, damage was necessary and Abreu hammered a two-run shot to right off Reds starter Rhett Lowder.
With two outs in the sixth, Abreu attempted more damage and lined a double high off the wall in left-center. That was significant because it came against lefty Brock Burke.
Abreu didn’t play much against lefties in his first two seasons, but he is out to prove he should be in the lineup against all pitchers in 2026.
And Abreu plans on making it so Cora resists any urge to pinch-hit him against lefties, as he has often done in the past.
“That's something that I worked on a lot heading into this year,” Abreu said. “So we'll see through the season how it's gonna be. But right now, I feel really good hitting lefties, too.”
With the Red Sox down a run by the time Abreu came to the plate with one on and two outs in the eighth, he ripped a sinking liner for a 107.8 mph single to center. That was a case of Abreu being in “put-the-ball-in-play” mode to put his team in a good position to come back. Unfortunately, Caleb Durbin capped an 0-for-12 first series with Boston with a swinging strikeout.
Abreu’s focus to hit the ball to all fields rather than sell out for pull home runs, as he’s gotten into the habit of doing at times in the past, is another thing that should set him up for success.
“This year I’m just trying to stay more through the middle and trying not to open my front side too early,” said Abreu.
He also has an improved understanding of staying back on non-fastballs, as was evident on his double against Burke’s 88.3 mph slider.
“Yeah, I think I’m able to hit those breaking balls when I stay on my backside longer and stay more stable with my body, so I can recognize the pitch a little better, and a little earlier so I can make the adjustment,” Abreu said.
As a two-time Gold Glove Award winner for his excellence in right field, Abreu could emerge into an All-Star if his hit tool becomes more consistent.
Cora is on record as saying Abreu has the ability for a 30-homer season. After all, the right fielder smashed 22 last year even when two stints on the IL limited him to 115 games.
“Hopefully,” Abreu said. “If I stay healthy, we'll see what happens at the end of the season. Right now, I'm not thinking about a number [of home runs], so I’ll just try to stay the way that I'm playing right now, stay there through the whole season, and we'll see.”