After the White Sox played their last game of 2016, first baseman Jose Abreu held a meeting with his family at his home to discuss his season.
“I explained to them all of the challenges, the problems I had during that season,” Abreu said Sunday through a team interpreter. “Once we ended with that meeting, last season was in the past.”
A day after reporting to Camelback Ranch for his fourth Sox spring training, Abreu reflected on the new challenges he faced in his third year in the majors, “especially in my mind,” he said.
Those difficulties played out in a major slump over the first two months of the season. Abreu hit .229 with three doubles and three homers over his first 25 games in March and April and .252 with six doubles and three homers in May.
“I never in my life experienced some kind of struggles like I did last year,” Abreu said. “But that put me in a better position as a player, as a person too. I’m in a better position now for this season because I learned from the experience.”
Abreu said his goals are to stay healthy and carry over the end of the 2016 season into a strong spring. He rebounded to finish the year with a .293 batting average, .820 OPS, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs.
He said he put in a lot of work in the offseason to prepare his body for such goals.
Photos as the White Sox practice at spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
“I put a lot of effort in my body, in my physical aspect,” Abreu said. “I worked a lot during this offseason, especially in my house. I now have all things to keep my body in good shape.”
Abreu smiled when responding to a question about being a veteran leader on the Sox this year, especially with a number of young players in spring training. He said he’s “very motivated” to take on such a role after talking it over with manager Rick Renteria.
Renteria said he expects Abreu to be part of “a nice little core of leaders” for the team and didn’t downplay the impact Abreu could have on new infielder and fellow Cuban Yoan Moncada.
“It’d be foolish for us not to take advantage of the fact that they have some familiarity with each other and they do talk a lot,” Renteria said. “(Moncada) couldn’t find a better example. Pito works very hard. He’s always trying to excel, and he’s someone he can watch by example. But also conversing with him and giving him a little comfort doesn’t hurt us.”
Abreu, in turn, praised Renteria for his communication with players, saying he already feels the impact two days into camp.
“He’s on top of everything,” Abreu said. “He likes to have the same level of communication with everybody. That’s important. In my case especially, it’s good because I can communicate with him in Spanish. That’s direct communication between us, and that’s very, very good.”
Caption Yoan Moncada talks goals for 2017, takes batting practice
White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada discusses his goals for the 2017 season and takes batting practice on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada discusses his goals for the 2017 season and takes batting practice on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Yoan Moncada talks goals for 2017, takes batting practice
White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada discusses his goals for the 2017 season and takes batting practice on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada discusses his goals for the 2017 season and takes batting practice on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption White Sox infielder Brett Lawrie on last year’s injuries
White Sox infielder Brett Lawrie on figuring out what caused his injuries last year. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox infielder Brett Lawrie on figuring out what caused his injuries last year. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption White Sox catchers play joke on pitcher James Shields
White Sox catchers play a joke on pitcher James Shields on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox catchers play a joke on pitcher James Shields on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Todd Frazier on the ‘refueling’ the White Sox
White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier on the "refueling" team at spring training on Feb. 17, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier on the “refueling” team at spring training on Feb. 17, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Carlos Rodon, Rick Renteria on Rodon’s separate spring training work
White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon and manager Rick Renteria discuss Rodon’s separate work at spring training on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon and manager Rick Renteria discuss Rodon’s separate work at spring training on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)
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