“Said It Outright, He’s Embarrassed”: Jose Abreu’s Temperament Heading Back to Minor Leagues Assessed By MLB Insider

Jose Abreu’s struggles this season have been a major cause for concern. Chandler Romer, the MLB analyst, recently did a deep dive into Abreu’s future, particularly after him being optioned to the Minors. He answers what the Houston Astros have in store for the veteran first baseman to bring him back on track.

As the host of Foul Territory pointed out, “You can’t just go down to West Palm and be like, you know, AJ, going home while he’s on the IL, and like just relaxing.” There’s a clear purpose behind sending Abreu to the team’s spring training facility in Florida. Could this be a demotion? 

Well, the plan prioritizes personalized attention for Abreu. The MLB analyst explained, “He’s gonna get however many bats he wants on the back fields in extended games.” Additionally, coordinators will be readily available to work with him, and both Dana Brown, the General Manager, and Jeff Bagwell, the Astros’ coach, are expected to visit Florida to offer guidance and check up on the 37-year-old. 

This move is not solely about improving Abreu as a player, it’s got a strategic element to this decision. West Palm Beach offers a reprieve from the intense media scrutiny Abreu would face otherwise. Chandler said, “They chose this route… to get him out of the spotlight.” This allows him to focus primarily on improvement without any added pressure of public scrutiny. 

It is no secret that this move has not been easy on Abreu himself. However, what has been tougher for him is the fact that he has seen himself deteriorate as a player. While he was someone who worked extremely hard, it seems that he has exhausted himself too early in the season. 

Jose Abreu’s frustration is quite clear

The analyst noted Abreu’s frustration. He went on to elaborate that “he said it outright he’s embarrassed he’s embarrassed about his production he’s embarrassed about the way he’s played since he got to Houston and he’s wearing it I mean it’s been tough to watch this this happen in real time because everyone in that Clubhouse loves him.” So much so that even Alex Bregman said that Abreu is one of the best teammates he has ever had.  

Now that it is established that Abreu was open to the idea of getting optioned, the timeline of his return remains uncertain. Chandler Rome of the Athletic underscored the open-ended nature of the plan. He said, “There’s no timeline of when he’ll be back…” The focus is on Abreu taking charge of his rehab, however, there is no guarantee when or even whether he will be back soon.