Wilyer Abreu kept forcing the issue at the plate last week, and the American League noticed.
The Boston Red Sox outfielder was named AL Player of the Week on Monday, giving him the award for the second time in the 2026 season. Boston made the announcement on X, celebrating the milestone with the message: “For the second time this season, Wilyer is the AL Player of the Week!”
Abreu’s numbers over the five-game stretch were loud. He went 7-for-16, hit .438, launched three homers, drove in nine runs and scored seven times. He also drew five walks and struck out just twice, a clean, productive run that helped Boston win four of five against the Chicago White Sox and Athletics.
His biggest night came in Boston’s 14-2 win over Chicago on Tuesday, when he went 2-for-4 with two home runs, two RBIs, two runs and a walk. He kept the momentum rolling the next day with another homer, making it three long balls in two games.
Abreu stayed involved throughout the rest of the week, too. He reached base three times and knocked in two runs in the Red Sox’s wild 12-11 win in 13 innings on Thursday.
Then, in Boston’s 13-1 win to open the weekend series against the Athletics, he added two hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Even in Sunday’s 4-3 loss, he still came through with an RBI and reached base twice.
The hot streak pushed Abreu to 20 home runs on the season, a new career high. He hit 15 in his first full MLB season in 2024 and followed with 17 in 2025.
Through 114 games, Abreu is batting .255 with 23 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs and 63 RBIs. He has also scored 64 runs and posted a .790 OPS.
Those are solid overall numbers, but the bigger value has come in the moments that tilt games. With injuries stacking up around the lineup, Abreu’s ability to change a game with one swing has become a major part of Boston’s push.
That push has been real. The Red Sox entered Monday’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at 64-53 after winning 27 of their previous 32 games, a surge that lifted them from below .500 and into the thick of the American League Wild Card race. Abreu has been one of the players driving that run.
His importance also shows up in the outfield. Roman Anthony remains out with a partially torn tendon in his finger, while Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela have been carrying heavy workloads. Abreu’s steady work in right field, along with his left-handed power, has given Boston some much-needed balance.
He has also kept bringing value with the glove. Abreu entered the season already known as one of baseball’s better defensive right fielders, and the offense is now rounding him into a more complete threat.
The Red Sox face a demanding stretch with 16 straight days of games, and Abreu was set to hit third Monday against Toronto right-hander Jameson Taillon. He also entered the four-game series having collected seven hits and six walks in nine games against the Blue Jays this season.
Boston’s focus is on the standings, not the hardware. But a second AL Player of the Week award in the same season says plenty about how often Abreu has been able to carry the offense.
And right now, he’s doing it at exactly the right time.
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