Abreu returns to old stomping grounds with fond memories

CHICAGO — José Abreu is gone from the White Sox but certainly not forgotten.

After playing nine stellar — often bordering on spectacular — years on the South Side of Chicago, Abreu returned to Guaranteed Rate Field in Houston’s 5-1 win Friday as part of the defending World Series champion Astros. Abreu joined Houston in the offseason via a three-year, $58.5 million free agent deal.

The 36-year-old looked upbeat and relaxed as he met the media Friday, although he did so for the first time in his career from the visitors’ dugout.

“A lot of memories,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “Very grateful for the opportunity I had here and a lot of people that gave me the opportunity to be here.”

“He taught us to never put your head down,” said White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada of his friend and teammate. “No matter what, the good moments, the bad moments, just keep working hard. Try to go out and do your best. That’s how he did it, right?”

Abreu’s White Sox statistics are worthy of having his jersey No. 79 eventually retired by the organization. His 243 career home runs rank third behind Hall of Famer Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko, both of whom have concourse statues and their respective White Sox jerseys retired. He ranks fifth with 863 RBIs and finds his name in the Top 10 of countless other categories.

But as Moncada explained, his value went well beyond just what he did on the field. Abreu was a leader by example and a guiding force in the clubhouse.

“First of all, he was so amazing to all the people around him,” White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito said. “When I first got traded over, it was Spring Training [in 2017], he was totally welcoming. It’s not like he had to say or do anything, but he was like the embodiment of the culture here, the team, all that kind of stuff.

“The biggest thing really that I observed and kind of took away from my time being his teammate was his dedication and love for the game to the point where he put his body on the line day in and day out. Go out and play through stuff that a lot of you guys didn’t know about. Play through stuff a lot of fans didn’t know about. He wanted to play every single day.”

Giolito hit “every single day” a little extra for emphasis. But ultimately, baseball is a business, and Abreu moved on as Andrew Vaughn, another player who raved about Abreu’s influence and leadership, moved full-time to first base.

The White Sox played a video tribute to Abreu prior to the first pitch Friday. His wife, mother-in-law and sons were in attendance.

Chicago and Abreu faced off in the season-opening series at Minute Maid Park, as Abreu finished 4-for-9 with two RBIs in a series split. Neither Abreu nor the White Sox have come close to hitting their stride since that point.

“It kind of stinks to see what they’re going through, but it’s part of the game,” Abreu said. “It’s a very tough game that we all play. I think I’ve been going through a lot more struggles than the White Sox have, and it’s part of the challenge.

“Gotta fight through them, and try to move on … I’ve always gone through slumps. I never want to. It’s unfortunate, but those things I’ll continue to work through, and I know I’ll get through them.”

Guaranteed Rate Field might be that launching point for Abreu, whose 120 homers at the ballpark trail only Thomas (263) and Konerko (259).

“If I work hard, things will turn around,” Abreu said. “The only thing I’m looking for is people [to] respect me the same way I respect them. And just play the game the right way.”

“I’ll look forward to just being a part of that moment because I got to be a part of so many awesome moments with him as a teammate,” Giolito said. “He was very well loved. He loved the fans so much, too.”