Bobby Abreu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bobby Abreu
Abreu with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011
Right fielder
Born: (1974-03-11) March 11, 1974 (age 51) Turmero, Venezuela
Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
September 1, 1996, for the Houston Astros
Last appearance
September 28, 2014, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average	.291
Hits	2,470
Home runs	288
Runs batted in	1,363
Stolen bases	400
Teams
Houston Astros (1996–1997) Philadelphia Phillies (1998–2006) New York Yankees (2006–2008) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2009–2012) Los Angeles Dodgers (2012) New York Mets (2014)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (2004, 2005) Gold Glove Award (2005) Silver Slugger Award (2004) Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2021
Vote	82%
Election Method	Contemporary Committee

Bobby Abreu is a famous former professional baseball player from Venezuela. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for several teams, including the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets.

Abreu was chosen for the All-Star Game twice. He also won a Gold Glove Award for his great defense and a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting. He was known for hitting many doubles and triples. Bobby Abreu is one of only 13 players in baseball history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 stolen bases in the same season, and he did it twice! He was also great at getting walks, which means he was good at waiting for the right pitch.

Bobby Abreu's Baseball Journey

Starting with the Houston Astros

Bobby Abreu began his professional baseball journey when he was signed by the Houston Astros in 1990. He played well in the minor leagues. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 1, 1996. His first official hit in the big leagues was a single on September 24.

In 1997, Abreu hit his first two home runs in the same game. He played in 59 games for the Astros that year. Later, the Astros decided not to protect him in a special draft. He was picked by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays but was quickly traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. This trade is often seen as one of the worst in baseball history because Abreu became such a star.

Becoming a Star with the Philadelphia Phillies

Early Years in Philadelphia (1998–2003)

In 1998, his first year with the Phillies, Abreu was a top hitter. He led the team with a .312 batting average. He also hit 17 home runs, had 74 RBI (runs batted in), and stole 19 bases.

Abreu with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004

In 1999, Abreu had an amazing season, hitting .335. This was one of the best batting averages for a Phillies player in many years. He also led the league in triples with 11. He continued to be a strong hitter, getting many doubles and walks. In 2001, he played in every single game (162 games) and hit a career-high 31 home runs and had 110 RBI. He also stole 36 bases.

All-Star Seasons (2004–2005)

In 2004, Bobby Abreu was chosen for his first All-Star team. He was voted in by fans online. That year, he hit the first home run ever at the Phillies' new stadium, Citizens Bank Park. He finished the season with a .301 batting average, 30 home runs, and 105 RBI. He was one of the best players in the league in many hitting categories. He became the first player in MLB history to have 30 home runs, 40 doubles, 40 stolen bases, and 100 walks in one season.

In 2005, Abreu was named the National League's Player of the Month in May. He hit incredibly well, with 11 home runs and 30 RBI that month. He was voted to start in the All-Star Game again. Before the game, he won the Home Run Derby, hitting a record-breaking 41 home runs in total. One of his home runs was measured at 517 feet, which was one of the longest in the Derby's history.

Playing for the New York Yankees

Joining the Yankees (2006)

Abreu with the New York Yankees in 2006

In July 2006, Abreu was traded to the New York Yankees. He quickly became an important part of their team. He finished the 2006 season with a .297 batting average, 15 home runs, and 107 RBI. The Yankees won their division that year. Abreu was excellent at getting walks, leading all of Major League Baseball in that category.

On September 12, 2006, Abreu had an amazing game where he drove in six runs in just one inning! This tied a Yankees team record that had stood for 55 years.

Later Years with the Yankees (2007–2008)

Abreu continued to play well for the Yankees in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, he had 101 RBI and 16 home runs. In 2008, he hit 20 home runs and had 100 RBI. He also had the very last stolen base in the original Yankee Stadium before it closed.

Time with the Los Angeles Angels

First Season with the Angels (2009)

Abreu with the Angels in 2009

In 2009, Abreu signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He started slowly but had a fantastic July, hitting .380 with 28 RBI. He was named the American League Player of the Month for July.

On August 6, Abreu hit his 250th career home run. This made him one of only six players in baseball history to have 250 home runs, 2,000 hits, 1,000 runs, 1,000 RBI, 1,000 walks, and 300 stolen bases.

Later Seasons with the Angels (2010–2012)

Abreu signed a new contract to stay with the Angels. He liked playing for manager Mike Scioscia and felt the team always had a chance to make the playoffs. In 2012, Abreu was released by the Angels. He was replaced on the team by a future star, Mike Trout.

Short Stints with Other Teams

Los Angeles Dodgers (2012)

Abreu with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012

After leaving the Angels, Abreu signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in May 2012. He played in 92 games for them, mostly as a pinch hitter later in the season.

New York Mets (2014)

After not playing in 2013, Abreu signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets in 2014. He was called up to the major leagues in April. Bobby Abreu announced his retirement from baseball on September 26, 2014. He got a single in his very last at-bat on September 28.

Bobby Abreu's Batting Style

Bobby Abreu was famous for his "plate discipline." This means he was very good at deciding which pitches to swing at and which ones to let go by. He rarely swung at the first pitch. This helped him get many walks and see a lot of pitches during his at-bats.

Career Statistics and Achievements

In his 18 seasons in Major League Baseball, Bobby Abreu played in 2,425 games. He had a career batting average of .291. He collected 2,470 hits, 574 doubles, 59 triples, 288 home runs, and 1,363 RBI. He also stole 400 bases and earned 1,476 walks.

Abreu's overall performance, measured by a statistic called Wins Above Replacement (WAR), was very high. This shows how valuable he was to his teams. He is considered one of the best right fielders of all time.

Awards and Recognition

Hall of Fame Consideration

Bobby Abreu has been considered for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Players need to receive at least 75% of the votes to be inducted. As of 2025, he has appeared on the ballot for six years, with his highest vote percentage being 19.5% in 2025.

Bobby Abreu's Life Outside Baseball

Abreu in 2009

Bobby Abreu has been involved in his community. He supported the American Red Cross Blood Drive. He also created "Abreu's Amigos," a program where he bought tickets for children to attend Phillies games. The children would get jerseys and even meet him on the field.

He received the Phillies Community Service award in 2004. In 2008, he helped the Police Athletic League of New York City through his charity, providing programs for kids.

In Venezuela, Bobby Abreu is known by the nickname "El Comedulce," which means "the candy-eater." This nickname was originally his father's, and Bobby started using it to honor his father's memory after he passed away.

More About Baseball

• 30–30 club
• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders

See also

In Spanish: Bob Abreu para niños