Michel Abreu

Michel Abreu Martinez (born February 8, 1975) is a Cuban professional baseball player. A first baseman, he is a member of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. Abreu began his professional career in the Cuban National Series, and then played in minor league baseball after he defected from Cuba.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Abreu and the second or maternal family name is Martinez.
Michel Abreu
Free Agent
First baseman
Born: (1975-02-08) February 8, 1975
Matanzas, Matanzas Province, Cuba
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
March 29, 2013, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • 1× Pacific League Home Run Leader (2013)
  • 1× Pacific League Best Nine Award (2013)

Career

Abreu debuted with the Cuban national baseball team in 1999. That year, he was part of the Cuban team that played a two-game exhibition series against the Baltimore Orioles.[1] Domestically, he played in the Cuban National Series for Matanzas. In 2002, he won the Triple Crown, as he led all Cuban players with a .356 batting average, 23 home runs and 78 runs batted in.[2][3] He was named the Series' Most Valuable Player that season.[4]

Abreu defected from Cuba in February 2004. He attempted to establish residency in Mexico, but after struggling to obtain the necessary documents, moved to Costa Rica and established residency there.[5] He signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox in September 2005, agreeing to a $425,000 signing bonus.[2] However, the Red Sox began the process of voiding the contract later that month, mainly because Abreu could not establish residency, but also because Abreu represented himself as 26 years old, though the roster from the 1999 Orioles-Cuba series gave his date of birth as February 8, 1975, which the Red Sox believed to be his correct date of birth.[6]

The New York Mets signed Abreu to a minor league contract in January 2006.[7] Assigned to the Binghamton Mets of the Class AA Eastern League, Abreu was named to the league's all-star game[8] and led the league in batting average (.332) and on-base percentage (.404). Due to issues obtaining his green card after the expiration of his work visa, Abreu missed the entire 2007 season. He played for the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Class AAA International League in 2008.[9] The Mets invited Abreu to spring training in 2009.[10]

Abreu played in the Mexican League for the Olmecas de Tabasco in 2010 and 2011[3] and the Sultanes de Monterrey in 2012. He signed with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2013 season.[11]

Abreu led NPB's Pacific League with 31 home runs in 2013

A back injury cost him all of the first half of the 2014 season. He was released August 21.[12]

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See also

References
  1. Chass, Murray (March 29, 1999). "BASEBALL; Cuban Players Scorn Those Who Defected". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  2. Edes, Gordon (September 13, 2005). "Hoping His Power Translates". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 14, 2013. (subscription required)
  3. "Michel Abreu llega a los Olmecas de Tabasco – Beisbol Mexicano – Deportes" (in Spanish). Terra. January 29, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  4. Massarotti, Tony (September 12, 2005). "BASEBALL; Sox sign Cuban slugger". Boston Herald. Retrieved March 14, 2013. (subscription required)
  5. Curry, Jack (September 8, 2005). "Cuban Defector Finds Team, Ending an 18-Month Wait". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  6. "Tris Jones named after Tris Speaker". ESPN.com. September 23, 2005. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  7. Shpigel, Ben (February 4, 2006). "Sports Briefing – Baseball – Mets Sign A Player". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  8. Kernan, Kevin (July 13, 2006). "Cause & Defect: Cuban Tries To Make It 'Big" With Mets". New York Post. Retrieved March 14, 2013. (subscription required)
  9. Fortus, Bob (April 5, 2008). "Abreu just happy to be back in action: Zephyrs 1B missed all of 2007 waiting for his green card". The Times Picayune. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  10. "Tom Martin and Casey Fossum among 10 non-roster invitees to Mets Major League Spring Training" (Press release). MLB.com. January 20, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  11. "Firma Michel Abreu con equipo japonés | Diario Provincia – El Diario Grande de Michoacán" (in Spanish). Provincia.com.mx. February 20, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  12. アブレイユ選手退団のお知らせ Hokkaidou Nihon Ham Fighters official site
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