Improved grasp of English has helped Jose Abreu find comfort on and off the field

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MINNEAPOLIS — As if his outstanding play this season isn’t a strong enough indicator, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu has found comfort on and off the field.

One of the keys to Abreu’s contentment is an improved grasp of English, which has helped him develop into the kind of leader the White Sox envisioned when they signed him in November 2013. Previously limited in his interactions with English-speaking teammates, Abreu processes conversations faster and feels comfortable enough to engage them more often on the field and in the clubhouse.

Combined with the happiness he’s discovered in his personal life, Abreu is in a good place and you need look no further than his absurd play for proof. Entering Wednesday night, Abreu was hitting .303/.355/.540 with 26 home runs, 80 RBIs and 278 total bases, good for second in the American League behind Jose Altuve (279). Abreu has been even better in August with a .985 OPS, including seven homers in 115 plate appearances.

“When a player gets to the big leagues how long does it take for that player to really be comfortable at the major league level?” manager Rick Renteria said. “There is a window. Some say it’s three years, some say it’s four. Some guys reflect a sense of comfort earlier in their career in the first or second year. I don’t know if that means totally they’re completely comfortable as a big leaguer. The longer you stay here the more comfortable you are in your own skin. It’s just a combination of things. He’s much more comfortable in the system, the organization with the players, with his teammates. Performing, confidence, everything filters into that.”

Now in his fourth season with the White Sox, Abreu rarely is anything but relaxed in the clubhouse. He often jokes with teammates and has begun to participate in small talk with players, coaches and media members without the aid of an interpreter.

“It all comes back to the language barrier,” infielder Tyler Saladino said. “If you were somewhere that spoke a different language, even if you had all the makings of a quality leader you still wouldn’t be able to accomplish that unless you were able to communicate.

“You can’t call a translator out (on the baseball field) every time.

“I can have way easier conversations with him now. You used to probably have to bring someone in and ask them to translate. But now it seems like he understands the majority of things that are being said to him. He understands it more fully to where he knows how to respond to it. He’s come a long way with the language and it definitely helps to know a few Spanish words to mix in there, speak a little Spanglish. But he definitely seems like he’s evolving into that leader.”

Abreu relishes being the point man, too. Renteria said the veteran slugger has fewer issues reaching out to teammates and has played a big role in creating a good environment for the legions of young, inexperienced rookies who have walked through the door.

“It’s a plus for all of us,” Renteria said. “He’s a guy who’s able to talk to all of the players, pitchers and position players, English speaking, non-English speaking. I’m sure if he had to learn Japanese he would.

“He’s done a nice job talking to everybody and making everybody feel comfortable and pushing guys in the right way. Encouraging them, but also staying on top of them when he needs to.”

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Abreu’s comfort has carried over to the field. His wRC+ is the highest it has been since 2014 when Abreu was the unanimous American League Rookie of the Year. The .985 OPS he has this month is his second-highest single month total since the end of the 2014 season (only August 2016 was better at 1061).

“He’s one of the best hitters in the game,” said one American League scout. “He’s tough because there’s not one way to get him out. He makes adjustments to whatever the pitcher is trying to do to him.”

“He seems like he gets better every time I see him.”

Abreu is also now more than ever convinced the White Sox rebuild is headed in the right direction. The promotions of Yoan Moncada, Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito has Abreu believing the process is worth the difficulty.

Abreu wants to help those prospects develop into sound major leaguers. He also wants to see the rebuild through and still be with the White Sox when they once again become competitive. The reality of his situation hasn’t escaped him — Abreu knows he’s only under team control for two more seasons and the White Sox have been in the business of moving their best players for nine months now.

But all of that is down the road. For now, Abreu has found happiness and it has resulted in all-around success.

“I think that the key for me is trying to be at peace with myself, with my life, just to be around good people, have the support of my family, of my team after all that the white Sox have been doing for me in every situation,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “And of course, just come in here and working hard. If you work hard every day you’re going to get the success.”

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