Chicago White Sox: Jose Abreu joined some elite RBI company

Jose Abreu has established himself as the premier-run producer in baseball. He proved this once again on Sunday when he broke open a 3-1 game against the Cubs by driving a double to center field for two RBIs. With that hit, Jose Abreu joined some elite Chicago White Sox company.

Abreu became just the second player in White Sox history to have six or more seasons with 100 RBIs. The only other two players to accomplish this are Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko. Konerko had six such seasons while Thomas racked up 10. The White Sox certainly don’t have a bad lineage of first baseman.

It is a remarkable feat considering that Abreu has only been in the league for eight years. There has been only one full 162-game season that Abreu has not driven in at least 100 and that was in 2018 when he missed some time due to testicular torsion surgery.

Despite the missing time he still managed to take home a Silver Slugger Award. The other year was his 2020 MVP that was shortened due to COVID-19. In the 60-game season, he had 60 RBIs which lead baseball. He also led baseball with 123 RBIs in 2019 and is the front runner to do so again this year.

Abreu has been the model of consistency ever since he has entered the big leagues. He started his career with three consecutive seasons with 30-plus doubles, 25-plus home runs, and 100 RBIs. He became the first player in White Sox history to accomplish that feat. He also joined Albert Pujols and Joe DiMaggio as the only players in major league history to start their careers with three-plus seasons of 25-plus home runs, 100 plus RBIs, and 175 plus hits.

Jose Abreu is one of the greatest players in the history of the Chicago White Sox.

Since 2014, the 34-year old slugger has led the league in RBIs, games played, and total bases. The White Sox first baseman is putting together another phenomenal campaign this year. Abreu leads the team in home runs (27), RBI (101), slugging percentage (.496), and OPS (.840).

Early this season his manager Tony La Russa said he belongs in the conversation as an all-time great. With the rate he is hitting at that notion is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Had Abreu came to the United States before the age of 27, there is a good chance he would be in line to shatter numerous MLB records. When he was in Cuba, he won MVP of Serie National while simultaneously establishing a then-record for home runs in a single season.

We can only speculate what Abreu’s totals would be if he came to the United States earlier. One thing is for sure, White Sox fans should appreciate his greatness while he is in Chicago because players like him do not come around all that often.