Bobby Abreu facts for kids

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Bobby Abreu

Abreu with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011

Right fielder

Born: 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

2,470

288

1,363

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 former professional baseball player from Venezuela. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for many teams. These teams included the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets.

Abreu was known for being a great hitter and a smart player. He was picked for the All-Star Game twice. He also won a Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense. Plus, he earned a Silver Slugger Award for his strong hitting. He was one of only 13 players to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 stolen bases in the same season, and he did it twice!

Bobby Abreu's Baseball Journey

Starting with the Houston Astros

Bobby Abreu began his baseball career with the Houston Astros. They signed him when he was a young player in 1990. He played really well in the minor leagues. In 1996, he was named the Astros' Minor League Player of the Year.

He made his first appearance in a Major League game on September 1, 1996. His first official hit was a single on September 24. In 1997, he hit his first two home runs in one game. He played in 59 games for the Astros that year.

The Astros later decided to trade Abreu. He was picked by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in a special draft. But just hours later, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. This trade turned out to be a great move for the Phillies.

Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies

Bobby Abreu spent many successful years with the Philadelphia Phillies. He became one of their best players.

Early Years with the Phillies (1998–2003)

In 1998, his first year with the Phillies, Abreu was a star. He led the team with a .312 batting average. He also hit 17 home runs and stole 19 bases.

In 1999, he had his best batting average ever, hitting .335. This was one of the highest averages for a Phillies player in many years. He also led the league in triples with 11.

Abreu continued to be a consistent player. In 2001, he played in every single game, all 162 of them. He hit a career-high 31 home runs and had 110 RBI. He was known for getting many doubles and walks.

All-Star Seasons (2004–2005)

In 2004, Bobby Abreu was chosen for his first All-Star Game. Fans voted him in online. He hit the first home run ever at the Phillies' new stadium, Citizens Bank Park.

That year, he had an amazing season. He hit 30 home runs, 47 doubles, and stole 40 bases. He also drew 127 walks. He was the first player in baseball history to reach all those numbers in one season!

In 2005, Abreu had another great year. He was named the National League's Player of the Month in May. He hit 11 home runs and had 30 RBI that month. He was voted to start in the All-Star Game again.

Before the All-Star Game, Abreu won the Home Run Derby. He hit a record-breaking 24 home runs in one round. He also hit 41 total home runs in the contest, which was a new record at the time. One of his homers flew an incredible 517 feet!

Joining the New York Yankees

In 2006, Bobby Abreu was traded to the New York Yankees. He quickly became an important part of their team.

Making an Impact (2006)

Abreu fit right in with the Yankees. He batted .297 with 15 home runs and 107 RBI in 2006. The Yankees won their division that year.

He was excellent at getting on base. He led all of Major League Baseball in walks with 124. He also saw more pitches per plate appearance than anyone else.

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

Consistent Performance (2007–2008)

Abreu continued to play well for the Yankees. In 2007, he scored 123 runs and had 101 RBI. He was always getting on base and helping his team score.

In 2008, he hit 20 home runs and had 100 RBI. He also stole the very last base in the original Yankee Stadium before it closed.

Moving to the Los Angeles Angels

In 2009, Bobby Abreu signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was expected to play left field.

New Team, Same Great Play (2009)

After a slow start, Abreu had an amazing July. He batted .380 and had 28 RBI. He was named the American League Player of the Month.

On August 6, he hit his 250th career home run. This made him one of only six players in baseball history to reach many impressive career milestones. These included 250 home runs, 2,000 hits, 1,000 runs, 1,000 RBI, 1,000 walks, and 300 stolen bases.

Abreu enjoyed his time with the Angels. He even helped younger players improve their hitting. He signed a new two-year contract with the team.

Later Years with the Angels (2010–2012)

Abreu continued to play for the Angels. In 2012, he wanted to play every day as the designated hitter. When that didn't happen, he was released by the Angels. He was replaced on the team by future star Mike Trout.

Short Time with the Los Angeles Dodgers

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

Brief Return to the Phillies

After not playing in 2013, Abreu tried to make a comeback. He played well in the Venezuelan Winter League. In 2014, he signed a minor league contract with the Phillies again. However, he was released before the season started.

Final Season with the New York Mets

On March 31, 2014, Abreu signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. He was called up to the major leagues in April. He played his final game on September 28, 2014. He got a single in his very last at-bat before retiring from baseball.

Bobby Abreu's Batting Style

Bobby Abreu was known for his excellent "plate discipline." This means he was very good at deciding which pitches to swing at and which to let go by. He rarely swung at the first pitch. He would wait for the best pitch to hit.

Career Statistics

Over 18 seasons and 2,425 games, Bobby Abreu had a career batting average of .291. He collected 2,470 hits, 574 doubles, 59 triples, and 288 home runs. He also had 1,363 RBI and stole 400 bases. He was known for getting a lot of walks, with 1,476 in his career.

He had a high "on-base percentage" of .395. This shows how often he got on base, either by hit or walk. He was a very valuable player to his teams throughout his career.

Awards and Honors

1996 Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Year
1999 Venezuelan Winter League All-Star OF
1999 Venezuelan Winter League Player of the Year
1999 Philadelphia Phillies Player of the Year
2000 Philadelphia Phillies Player of the Year
2001 Philadelphia Phillies Player of the Year
2004 NL Silver Slugger Award (OF)
2004 MLB All-Star
2005 NL Player of the Month (April)
2005 NL Gold Glove Award (OF)
2005 MLB All-Star
2005 Winner of the Home Run Derby at the MLB All-Star game (41 home runs over 3 rounds)
2009 AL Player of the Month (July)

Baseball Hall of Fame Consideration

Bobby Abreu has been considered for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Players need to receive a certain percentage of votes to be inducted. He has appeared on the ballot several times, and his support has been growing.

Bobby Abreu in the Community

Bobby Abreu was very active in helping his community. Especially when he played for the Phillies in Philadelphia.

In 2001, he was the Honorary Chairman for the American Red Cross Blood Drive. He helped encourage people to donate blood.

He also started a program called "Abreu's Amigos." He bought tickets for children to attend many Friday night games. The kids also received jerseys and met Abreu on the field.

In 2004, he received the Phillies Community Service award. He was also his team's representative for MLB's Roberto Clemente Award. This award honors players who give back to their communities.

In 2008, Abreu helped the Police Athletic League of New York City. His charity provided programs for boys and girls.

Abreu is known as "El Comedulce" in Venezuela. This nickname means "the candy-eater." It was originally his father's nickname. Bobby started using it to honor his father's memory.