Wilyer Abreu to be called up
- Thread starter DeadlySplitter
- Start date
I misread the tweet as definite, sorry for the premature thread. Maybe it will be a proper thread tomorrow 
EDIT: Seems proper now, changed thread title back.
EDIT: Seems proper now, changed thread title back.
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Happen to have come around to this guy as an underrated prospect. Lots of pop, great plate discipline. A middling contact profile, much like Casas, but if he can manage to make enough contact he's the sort of guy who could really lengthen our lineup by grinding out at-bats.
SP says potential average RF with a plus arm.
Don't know how much playing time he will get, but I can see a path to being a big league regular that I can't with Emmanuel Valdez (can't field). Hope he makes the most of his opportunity.
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I like his peripherals....here's what he has done in 363 PAs in AAA this year:
K%: 20.39
BB%: 16.25%
ISO: .264
Overall slash line: .274/.391/.538
That is with a deflated .290 BABIP too which is about 40 points below his normal prior to AAA. If he can be even a 25-27% K rate and 10-12% BB rate in the majors, then he's likely to be an above average hitter.
K%: 20.39
BB%: 16.25%
ISO: .264
Overall slash line: .274/.391/.538
That is with a deflated .290 BABIP too which is about 40 points below his normal prior to AAA. If he can be even a 25-27% K rate and 10-12% BB rate in the majors, then he's likely to be an above average hitter.
Duran either had or is having today an MRI, no announcement yet of the results.
How he plays defensively will be really interesting to follow and see if he’s a candidate to be part of an outfield rotation, or if maybe he’s a decent trade chip in the offseason
I haven’t been able to watch the past two games. I know there was a throwing error in his first game, and Wilyer played CF in the blowout game on Thursday, but does anyone have initial impressions of the defense over 3 games? Does Wilyer look like a serviceable OF?
The bat has had a decent showing, even if you downplay the 4-5 yesterday. Not immediately striking out a ton, and already seeing an average over 4 pitches/AB.
The bat has had a decent showing, even if you downplay the 4-5 yesterday. Not immediately striking out a ton, and already seeing an average over 4 pitches/AB.
He looked serviceable to me. Got to the balls you'd expect, didn't do anything flashy. SoxProspects suggests that's what should be expected of him defensively.
While I would like to see a Verdugo extension for 5 years at a reasonable cost, and I think if he refuses he should be retained next season, keeping Abreu makes a ton of sense
I’ll chalk his overthrow in game 1 on him being in his first game and being super amped up.
Only two games but certainly seems fine. He won’t win a gold glove but he won’t hurt you either.
Regarding his at bats I like his plate discipline already. Able to lay off close pitches and be selective. He takes violent jacks so the K’s will be there, but when he connects - dear god.
That being said he’s like a lot of hitters with power, when it gets to two strikes he still takes violent jacks and doesn’t focus on the whole shorten tbe swing and just try to put bat on ball. But that’s been going on for decades it’s not an Abreu problem.
Pretty excited to know this could be in the OF cycle the next 5+ years as long as he can mentally handle the back and forth adjustments games with pitchers.
His walk rate at every level in the minors has been impressive, which is also a good sign.
Only two games but certainly seems fine. He won’t win a gold glove but he won’t hurt you either.
Regarding his at bats I like his plate discipline already. Able to lay off close pitches and be selective. He takes violent jacks so the K’s will be there, but when he connects - dear god.
That being said he’s like a lot of hitters with power, when it gets to two strikes he still takes violent jacks and doesn’t focus on the whole shorten tbe swing and just try to put bat on ball. But that’s been going on for decades it’s not an Abreu problem.
Pretty excited to know this could be in the OF cycle the next 5+ years as long as he can mentally handle the back and forth adjustments games with pitchers.
His walk rate at every level in the minors has been impressive, which is also a good sign.
I will second the statement that while he doesn't look like he will be making ESPN's top plays, he moves relatively well in the outfield and seems to track the ball well enough. Took what seemed to be direct lines to the ball and definitely has a strong arm. I also agree he was just excited to be there and trying to make a play on his overthrow. Nothing to really be worried about in that area yet.
Bat and strike zone control are legit. He's definitely someone to keep around. I am a big Verdugo fan and like what he brings to the team, however I could be talked into watching Wilyer patrol right. He won't win a gold glove, but I think he can do just fine out there for a few years until others are ready.
Bat and strike zone control are legit. He's definitely someone to keep around. I am a big Verdugo fan and like what he brings to the team, however I could be talked into watching Wilyer patrol right. He won't win a gold glove, but I think he can do just fine out there for a few years until others are ready.
View: https://twitter.com/RedSoxPlayerDev/status/1694822177931956239
They definitely don't need all 4 of Abreu, Duran, Verdugo & Yoshida next year. Will be interesting to see how they pivot.
They definitely don't need all 4 of Abreu, Duran, Verdugo & Yoshida next year. Will be interesting to see how they pivot.
Downgrading the defense, particularly the RF defense in Fenway Park, seems a dicey proposition for an already atrocious defensive team headed into 2024.
Guys, let's see the league adjust to Abreu and Abreu adjust back to the league before we make any plans for 2025.
I will say that Abreu has already shown enough to suggest that his two remaining optionable years (after counting this one as the third, I think) will be wildly valuable as depth.
I will say that Abreu has already shown enough to suggest that his two remaining optionable years (after counting this one as the third, I think) will be wildly valuable as depth.
The other guy in the trade, Enmanuel Valdez, also had a 1.000 OPS through his first 10 big league games. Pitchers figured him out and he got overmatched. I don't think we should be thinking of anything beyond giving him at bats right now before the hot streak ends.
MLB.com says this about Wilyer:
Sox Prospects on his defense:
There was a highlight video earlier in the Worcester season where he made a really good throw from RF to nail a baserunner, but I can't find it now. I'm not worried about his arm strength at all. Accuracy, we'll see, but it hasn't been a problem in the minors.
He's on fire right now and we should ride with him until he cools off, which he inevitably will, but nobody knows when. Duran will be out for a while more, and if Wilyer can stay fairly hot for a couple weeks, that could be really helpful.
That scouting report seems to be from before the start of this season, but they have his arm and defense as the best parts of his game.
Sox Prospects on his defense:
Personally, I've seen him play a couple times and noticed he had good arm strength.
There was a highlight video earlier in the Worcester season where he made a really good throw from RF to nail a baserunner, but I can't find it now. I'm not worried about his arm strength at all. Accuracy, we'll see, but it hasn't been a problem in the minors.
He's on fire right now and we should ride with him until he cools off, which he inevitably will, but nobody knows when. Duran will be out for a while more, and if Wilyer can stay fairly hot for a couple weeks, that could be really helpful.
I think if you're "fringe average" in center field in general you're going to be the same in right field in Fenway.
I'm curious, why not? They've been running with Duvall, Duran, Verdugo, and Yoshida (and Refsnyder) for the past couple months. Substituting Abreu for Duvall next year seems a reasonable mix. I think what's more likely is that Abreu will be on the Worcester shuttle next year (probably with Rafaela) and they'll look for him to really step up in 2025 with Verdugo possibly gone.
I'm guessing he's referring to all 4 of those guys being LH (and Duvall RH)?
Yeah, that was what I was referencing. I think Rafaela fits as a fine Duvall replacement if he's ready, but not Abreu. If he's going to start the season with the Sox, I think 1 of the other 3 is redundant.
Of course he might not be ready, & can stay in Worcester & it's moot.
If Abreu looks like the real deal, I would be surprised if one of the LH outfielders was not traded in the offseason. Verdugo would seem the most likely since he only has 1 year left, but any of them could be shipped if the right return is there.
Bumping this after his 3 hit game today. Obviously a small sample size, but an .849 OPS over his first 130 at-bats is pretty nice. He started off a little rough in the field but he's starting to look more comfortable out there. We might have something here?
After some earlier bad defense…. From what I can tell so far, he’s at least preferable over Verdugo.
Especially when you factor in that Abreu is still considered a rookie, isn't arbitration eligible until '27 and FA eligible until 2030. That doesn't even consider the return for Verdugo.
I was all about getting an extension to Verdugo in mid June of last season. I’m so glad I passed when I was offered the GM position.
Seriously though- it’s a crazy thing… I don’t think Abreu was considered anything other than a potential 4th OF and while he could still obviously play terribly the rest of his career starting tomorrow, he’s looking good so far.
Bloom made plenty of bad decisions but at some future point, it’d be interesting to dig a little deeper into everything he did without touching the Mookie trade and assess. I still think he needs a few more seasons as the current team is pretty much Bloom’s club.
Bloom did a great job of finding decent players while giving up very little value. He got good returns on the Vazquez and and Benintendi trades. His big problem was acquiring star players. If Story and Yoshida were better and healthier players, those other guys would be awesome filling out the bottom of the lineup.
I'll check again after bref updates, but I'm pretty sure this great game should put Wilyer in the lead in bWAR among AL rookies — over Justin Slaten, with whom he had been tied at 1.0.
That's right. Your 2024 Red Sox have the top two rookies in the AL by bWAR; Jared Jones is the leader in the NL, unless I missed someone (this isn't the easiest thing to check), also with 1.0.
What I notice when watching Wilyer is that he has been putting good contact on a variety of pitches. He isn't hacking.
Cowser is the only guy I checked, he has 1.1.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cowser000col
I just went to four nights of Phish at the Sphere and only looked at tonight's box score. Yuge apologies, my guy.
O'Neill, Duran, Abreu is the best overall outfield the team can field right now. Refsnyder has been hot since returning but I don't believe it's sustainable (particularly against RHP). Plus I expect he might get some run at 1B as long as the bat stays hot. Rafaela is the SS now. DH is kinda crowded already with Devers and Yoshida. No sense in trying squeeze Abreu into that mix when he's a good defender.
The Story injury may end up having some upside as otherwise it might have been tough for Abreu to get regular AB.
Why? Abreu has looked pretty damned good in RF and has a great arm.
Whatever the mix, Duran not in RF but Oneill, Abreu and Duran is a good OF. I still want Refsnyder at 1B. Yoshida WILL be the regular DH at some point again?
Tiny silver lining for sure. Though I suspect that at some point, Rafaela was going to swing his way out of the lineup. As good as he is defensively, a 33 OPS+ is not really good enough to justify him starting regularly over Abreu.