Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox won his first Gold Glove Award on Sunday, Nov 3. The Venezuelan-born Abreu had a great first full season in the MLB, ending with him being the 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award recipient for right field in the American League.
Abreu became the first Red Sox player to win a Gold Glove in their rookie season since Fred Lynn in 1975. He also became the eighteenth rookie ever to win a Gold Glove Award.
Red Sox rookie Wilyer Abreu is a Gold Glove Award winner!
Prior to 2013, only nine rookies had been recognized with a Gold Glove. That total is now up to 18.
More: https://t.co/a61Lvqx0NP pic.twitter.com/hsqSlKsdFc
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 4, 2024
He racked up 17 Defensive Runs Saved and seven Outs Above Average, both of which ranked first in the American League amongst right fielders. Abreu earned this honor playing in the infamous Fenway Park right field, one of the toughest areas to cover in all of baseball.
Since Wilyer Abreu brought home his first Gold Glove last night, here’s 3 minutes and 9 seconds of him showing why he deserved it.
Nobody had more DRS (17) and OAA (7) in the AL or NL amongst right fielders. pic.twitter.com/4HYLho7S9h
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) November 4, 2024
Abreu not only shined defensively in 2024 but also at the plate. The 25-year-old lefty outfielder from Maracaibo, Venezuela, accumulated 3.8 WAR with a slash line of .253/.322/.459. With a .782 OPS, Abreu had a 114 OPS+, meaning he was 14 points better offensively than the league-average player.
Abreu was signed out of Venezuela as an international free agent by the Houston Astros in 2017. He was traded to Boston along with Enmanuel Valdez as a part of the deal that sent catcher Christian Vazquez to Houston. He made his debut in 2023, and after hitting .316 with a .862 OPS over 28 games, he was called up to the Majors full-time for 2024.
Abreu finishes a good rookie season with some hardware: The Venezuelan outfielder is the 2024 American League Gold Glove Award recipient.
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