Hurricane Jose Sweeps Through Chicago On Record Setting Mission

Shortly after Jose Abreu became the first Cuban-born Major League Baseball player to hit for the cycle he lost hours of sleep wondering about the safety of his family in Miami and Cuba. Irma ripped through the north coast of Cuba on its way to Miami overnight and all Abreu could do was wait. He has since gotten word that his family in Miami weathered the storm and whipped up a merciless weather front of his own on the south side of Chicago. Abreu rifled two home runs on Sunday in the series finale against the San Francisco Giants.

Abreu went 7 for 12 in the weekend series with three home runs and six runs batted in. Irma may be the most powerful hurricane in history but Abreu plays no second fiddle. Over the past 30 days, Abreu is batting a stout .359 with 10 dingers a 1.142 OPS.

Ever since he risked intestinal blockage to sign with the White Sox, Abreu has been a steady force in the South Siders’ lineup. After lacing his 30^th and 31^st home run on Sunday he has belted 30 home runs or more in three of his first four big league seasons. The only feat he has yet to reach this season – and it appears it is only a matter of time – is knock in 100 runs, something he has accomplished in all three of his first major-league seasons.

The Cuban slugger has been remarkably consistent and owns a wRC+ that rivals his counterpart on the north side, Anthony Rizzo. With 20 games remaining and the searing pace Abreu has set, I’d say he’s in for a category-five September. Besides Abreu stealing the show, Carson Fulmer turned in a quality start in his encore audition for a starting role.

His pitch count bubbled early but he fought through early command issues demonstrating the gut to face adversity. He didn’t seem to have good depth on his pitches but he found a way to fan the first six batters of the game and finish with nine punch outs over six innings, the lone run coming off a solo-shot by Jarrett Parker.