The Boston Red Sox started their 2025 season on a excessive notice with a highway win over the Texas Rangers, and you’ll in all probability by no means guess who carried the workforce to victory.
With all eyes on Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman making their regular-season debuts for Boston, it was outfielder Wilyer Abreu who stole the present. The Purple Sox have been trailing 2-1 within the high of the fifth inning when Abreu blasted a towering solo residence run to proper discipline off Nathan Eovaldi.
That was an enormous swing, but it surely was hardly the largest one of many day for Abreu. The sport was nonetheless tied at 2-2 when the 25-year-old got here to the plate within the high of the ninth inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Abreu hit a line-drive residence run off Luke Jackson to place Boston on high 5-2.
Proper-hander Justin Slaten preserved the 5-2 victory with an ideal ninth inning. Aroldis Chapman, one other flashy new addition for the Purple Sox, acquired the win after pitching a scoreless eighth.
However the day belonged to Abreu.
Abreu is a lesser-known participant, although not fully unknown. He performed in 132 video games for the Purple Sox final season and gained a Gold Glove Award. He batted .263 with 17 residence runs and 72 RBI throughout his first two seasons with the Purple Sox. The Venezuelan had breakout potential coming into 2025, however nobody anticipated his two residence runs to be the distinction for Boston on Opening Day.
If Abreu’s heroic efficiency on Thursday is an indication of issues to come back, Purple Sox followers have cause to be excited.
