When the Boston Red Sox traded away Christian Vázquez at the 2022 deadline, fans were left scratching their heads. Vázquez, a key part of the 2018 World Series team and the 2021 ALCS squad, was swapped for two players who weren’t even top-15 prospects. Fast forward to 2023, and one of those players, Wilyer Abreu, started to make waves.
Abreu lit up the minors in Worcester, earning a late-season call-up where he hit .316 with an .862 OPS over 28 games, securing his spot on the 2024 roster. He stuck around for the entire season, batting .253 with a .781 OPS and snagging his first Gold Glove as a rookie. In 2025, despite being limited to 115 games due to injury, Abreu hit career highs with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs, posted a 3.2 bWAR, and took home another Gold Glove.
Once an unknown, Abreu is now a fan favorite in Boston, with eyes set on even greater feats in 2026. Yet, despite his accomplishments, national recognition remains elusive.
In Bleacher Report's rankings of MLB right fielders, Abreu was placed ninth, trailing behind players like Brandon Nimmo and Seiya Suzuki. This ranking seems out of touch with the reality that Red Sox fans witness.
Nimmo, who turns 33 soon, has had worse seasons by bWAR than Abreu over the last two years. While Nimmo has been more available, his transition to right field in Texas-where he hasn't played since 2020-raises questions.
His Outs Above Average over the last three seasons is zero, compared to Abreu's impressive +14. Availability alone doesn’t justify ranking Nimmo above Abreu.
As for Suzuki, he spent much of last season as the Cubs' DH. With a projected return to the field due to Kyle Tucker's departure, Suzuki's defensive shortcomings could be exposed. Although a stronger offensive player currently, ranking him four spots above Abreu seems a stretch given his limited field time.
Abreu has been a standout defender in right field for the past two seasons, and his offensive game is on the rise. If his performance in the World Baseball Classic is any indication, he's poised to break into the top five. For now, Abreu just needs to keep proving the doubters wrong.