Slugger Abreu isn’t power-mad
Only has 11 homers, but is concentrating on being better hitter
After hitting 36 home runs during his rookie season in 2014 and 30 last year, Jose Abreu has 11 after the White Sox’ first 101 games, a far cry from what the Sox expected from their first baseman.
Abreu hit three homers in April, three in May, then five in June, but he hasn’t gone deep since connecting on a game-tying shot against the Red Sox’ Junichi Tazawa on June 23 at Fenway Park.
Concerns? Not from the Sox’ middle-of-the-order mainstay, who has reached base safely in 43 of his last 46 games.
“I’m not concerned about my home-run production,’’ Abreu said. “The most important thing for me right now is to be comfortable at the plate, and I am. We have two more months, and I know the homers will be there.’’
Abreu has a .276 batting average, 11 homers and 56 RBI, and with 23 doubles, he was on pace for a career-high 36.
He was 9-for-20 with three walks in his previous six games. Abreu singled, flied out and struck out twice Wednesday.
He says he never has tried to hit a home run in a particular at-bat and isn’t about to “think big” now.
“My approach is very simple,’’ he said. “I try to put the barrel on the ball.’’
Hitting coach Todd Steverson said Abreu is concentrating on being a better overall hitter than a home-run hitter, and that’s OK by him.
Abreu went through a rough stretch during which plate disci- pline was a big problem.
“Obviously, the lack of homers were from issues of struggling and lack of discipline at the plate,’’ Steverson said. “Getting back to being a hitter, when that starts rumbling the way he likes it, you may see a couple more homers. His focus is not on hitting homers but about being productive at the plate. And I’m fine with that. Yeah, he’ll hit home runs again.
“I don’t know how many he’s going to hit this year. Obviously, it would be more beneficial as a whole as an offense if he could get those four bases a little more often, but I don’t think he came in here specifically as a home-run hitter.’’
When Todd Frazier was acquired in a trade last offseason, he was supposed to provide the protection Abreu needed, and he has with 29 homers.
But Abreu’s shortage of punch is on the list of factors of why the Sox are more likely to be sellers than buyers at the trade deadline Monday. Abreu, who wants badly to win, has been hard on himself this year.
Although he could surprise, general manager Rick Hahn isn’t expected to clean house before the deadline, but it’s reasonable to expect at least one deal getting made. Frazier, one of many Sox who could help a contending team, has seen former Reds teammates run the gamut on reactions this time of year.
“It’s all rumors, man,’’ Frazier said. “I’ve seen guys who don’t tell you straight up, but they want to get out of here. I’ve seen guys cry at their locker after they got traded. . . . It’s just the way it goes. It’s a crazy business. You never know. They might tell you one thing and then something happens a day later.’’
Abreu knows what’s going on, although he’s on the lower end of the list of expendables, his power issues notwithstanding.
“I would like to stay with my teammates forever,’’ Abreu said. “You have to understand, too, that this is a business, and a lot of decisions are made by the front office that are out of your hands.
‘‘The front office has to do its job, and we have a job to do here. I don’t have any power in that.’’