Cuban Rookie Jose Abreu is Tearing It Up in the Big Leagues

Photo Caption: NBA.com

By Francisco Romero

It is hard to believe, but the first month of the 2014 Major League Baseball season has come and gone by. Many are the stories of success and failure, out of all them one stands out; the story of 27 year old White Sox rookie Cuban Jose Abreu.

After setting offensive records in his native country and being a member of the Cuban National Team, Abreu defected from Cuba in August of 2013. He established residency in Dominican Republic and thus becoming a free agent.

In October of 2013 he signed a lucrative six-year $68 million dollar contract to play for the Chicago White Sox.

Once the baseball season started, Abreu continued where he left off in Cuba. The first baseman has become a sensation for the White Sox.

The Cuban native is re-writing the record books as he has established a new RBI record for rookies with 32 (as of April 29th). Albert Pujols previously held that record with 27 (2001). As of April 29th he was leading the Majors in home runs with 10, one ahead of Pujols.

“I never expected to do this well, specially with in this kind of weather, it is still cold here (Chicago), but thank God things have turn out this way. I just want to keep on working hard,” said Abreu after breaking the RBI rookie record for the first month of the season.

Abreu has joined an elite group of Cuban baseball players who have defected and have made an impact in Major League Baseball. Most recently Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yoenis Cespedes of the Oakland Athletics have established themselves as key members of their respective teams.

Although very early in the season to assume anything, barring injury Abreu will definitely make a run for American League Rookie of the Year.