On Thursday night, Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu became the second player in Major League Baseball history to record 30 home runs and 100 RBI in the first two seasons of his career.
According to Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago, Abreu joins Albert Pujols, who performed the feat in 2001 and 2002.
The White Sox followed with a congratulatory message for Abreu:
Scott Merkin of MLB.com reported Abreu planned to text Pujols after the game to thank him for helping him get to this point, adding that Abreu is honored to share the milestone with him.
Abreu knocked in his 100th and 101st runs of the season during the bottom of the seventh inning against Luke Hochevar of the Kansas City Royals, ripping a single to left field to pull the White Sox within two runs.
MLB shared a replay of Abreu’s momentous single:
Abreu arrived at the 30-home run and 100-RBI plateaus in quick succession. On Wednesday, the night before his big single, Abreu socked his 30th home run of the season, also against the Royals.
MLB provided a look at his 30th home run:
It’s another notch in Abreu’s belt as the 2014 American League Rookie of the Year looks to continue the success of a career that started a bit late. The 28-year-old Cuban defector signed as a free agent with the White Sox in 2013 and immediately captivated the league with his power.
Sure, Abreu’s career might one day lead baseball fans to wonder what could have been if he had played his entire career in America, but if his time in the majors turns out to be anything like Pujols’, he will be fine.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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