White Sox's Jose Abreu: Ready to build off strong second half
Abreu feels like his offense this spring is in the same place it was at the end of last season, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. He batted .269 with three home runs and 14 RBI over 22 spring games.
Abreu has experienced a slight drop-off since his fabulous rookie season in 2014, but showed encouraging signs in the second half of last season after making a correction in his swing. The first baseman slashed .319/.384/.514 with 14 homers in 73 games after the 2016 All-Star break. Abreu said he's in the best shape physically since arriving in the United States, and added that the mental baggage he'd been carrying around is in the past after testifying in court in a Cuban player-smuggling trial against a former agent and trainer. "I feel good, 100 percent focused on the game. My mind can be perfectly clear," said Abreu.
