Abreu Makes Debut With Houston Astros, Calls It ‘Weird’

First baseman José Abreu made his debut for the Houston Astros on Saturday and mentioned how it felt 'weird.'

José Abreu played the first nine seasons of his Major League career with the Chicago White Sox.

There was a routine he was used to in spring training and throughout the season.

The Houston Astros signed him to a lucrative $58.5 million deal and he couldn’t be happier.

But Abreu is also adjusting.

Abreu went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in his first two at-bats with the Astros in spring training and played five innings at first base in a 4-2 win over the New York Mets on Saturday.

“A lot of things were,” Abreu said when asked what was weird. “The colors of the jerseys were weird, the climate here in Florida is a little bit different (than the Cactus League) and a little bit weird and obviously, new teammates I’m just starting to get to know, but very fortunate and very appreciative of where I am at right now. It’s just the beginning.”

Astros manager Dusty Baker has been impressed with Abreu since arriving in Houston.

“He works in the weight room, he works on the field, he is a worker,” Baker said. “He doesn’t say a whole bunch. But he’s come in and gotten instant respect from our guys because they know he’s a ballplayer. He takes pride in it and works on it.”

Abreu’s durability is amazing. He has missed only 18 games over the last four seasons.

“I’m a person (who) likes playing every single day,” he said. “It’s a new team and different mentality, but I’m going to talk to Dusty and (bench coach) Joe (Espada) and I know they’re going to put me in the best position to be successful.”

Abreu slashed .304/.378/.446 with 15 home runs and 75 RBI in 2022.

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