Abreu close to rejoining Astros could return this weekend
HOUSTON — Less than a month after agreeing to be optioned to the Minor Leagues to get his swing back on track, Astros first baseman José Abreu could rejoin the team as early as this weekend, manager Joe Espada said Monday.
Espada confirmed the comments made Sunday by general manager Dana Brown on the team’s pregame radio program on 790 AM in Houston. Brown said Abreu could rejoin the Major League club for the series in Oakland, which begins Friday.
Abreu reported to the Astros’ Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., in early May to try to get his timing back amid his early-season struggles. Abreu was hitting .099 with a .269 OPS, one extra-base hit and three RBIs in his first 22 games. In Florida, he worked out almost daily, often with Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell watching closely, and has appeared in three Gulf Coast League games, going 3-for-14 with two doubles and one strikeout.
“He’s actually looked really good,” Espada said. “I saw the videos and reports from our coordinators. I like the [changes] he’s made to his swing. His at-bats have also been pretty good — competitive and hitting the ball hard. The plan is, if he clears the next couple of days, [he] will play a few [rehab] games. Like Dana said, if everything looks good, he’ll join us this weekend.”
