Eaton: Abreu should be American League MVP this season
GLENDALE, Ariz. - At this time last year, the White Sox had a pretty good idea that Jose Abreu was going to be a special talent.
The former Cuban star turned out to be exactly that, and much more.
"He's a great player, a great kid, leader, all those things," Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
When his first major-league season was in the books, Abreu ranked first in the American League with a .581 slugging percentage. He tied for fourth with 36 home runs, was fifth with 107 RBI and sixth with a .317 batting average.
Throw in the longest hitting streak (21 games) in the league and a .383 on-base percentage, and it's easy to see why Abreu was the unanimous Rookie of the Year.
On Monday at Camelback Ranch, Abreu sat down and talked about his least favorite subject - himself.
"The award I won last year, I think it was (given) for my effort," Abreu said through a translator. "About if I consider myself one of the best in the game, I don't know. I don't like to talk about myself.
"Everyone knows that Miggy (Miguel Cabrera), Victor Martinez are out there. If the people want to put me in the same level as them, it's not too bad."
The obvious questions: Can Abreu top the big numbers he put up last season? Can he match them? Or, was he just a one-year wonder?
White Sox teammate Adam Eaton has little doubt that Abreu's best days still are ahead.
"He should be the AL MVP this year," Eaton said. "If we were better last year and guys stayed healthy in front of him, I think he could have won it last year. (MVP winner Mike) Trout had unbelievable numbers, but Jose can do that.
"With his talent, the park he plays in, the guys he'll have around him, I'll be surprised if he doesn't win MVP this year."
Now that he has gone through a full season in the majors, Abreu should be better prepared to handle the schedule, which is nearly twice as long as what he played in Cuba.
Abreu also said he's feeling much better after dealing with posterior tibia tendinitis in his left ankle in 2014. The pain forced the 28-year-old first baseman to go on the disabled list from May 18 through June 2.
The drive is still there. Like last year, Abreu reported to spring training early and got right in the cage.
"He has the work ethic of a Paul Goldschmidt," Eaton said of his former Arizona Diamondbacks teammate. "I compare them because of the professionalism and the way they go about their business.
"If you put in the work and you have that kind ability, it's going to come out. He's a great player, he has a good head on his shoulders, he works hard, he knows what makes him successful, and he knows how pitchers are going to attack him."
If there is one flaw, it could be that Abreu spends too much time on his craft.
"He likes to work," Ventura said. "He likes to get in there and he likes to take a lot of swings. Even down here, we'll probably cut back on some of it.
"He likes to get in the cage. That's one thing he does enjoy, but once you realize it's 162 games, sometimes it's good just to not do anything, just get off your feet. I think he learned some of that last year, later in the year of him going through it."
Whether he goes full-bore or not, Abreu is preparing to again be the driving force of the White Sox' offense.
"I cannot say that I will put up the same numbers or be better," Abreu said. "I just can say that I will try to do the best every day and help the team win games. If the numbers are the same as last year, it's good for me. But my main focus right now is to try to be the best player possible and help the team."
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