Dewey welcomes Abreu to Red Sox's Gold Glove club

This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BOSTON -- When it comes to the Red Sox, Dwight Evans is the Lord of the Gold Gloves, having won a club-record eight during his 19-year run as the team’s extraordinary right fielder.

As Evans was celebrating his 73rd birthday on Sunday, he was thrilled to receive the news that Red Sox rookie right fielder Wilyer Abreu joined him in the club’s Rawlings Gold Glove Award-winning fraternity.

“I’m just so proud of what he’s accomplished in such a short time,” Evans said by phone. “Here he is as a rookie winning a Gold Glove. I’ve watched him evolve. He’s kind of evolved right in front of us.”

Abreu is Boston’s first rookie to win a Gold Glove since center fielder Fred Lynn in 1975.

As a Spring Training instructor for the Sox, Evans works closely with the outfielders. He first got to know Abreu in 2023, a few months after Boston had acquired him in a trade with the Astros.

“From when I saw him in Spring Training last year, he’s grown since then. He is so strong. He’s really got a good feel for the outfield. He’s kind of a natural out there,” Evans said.

Much like Evans back in the 1970s and '80s, it is Abreu’s combination of range and a strong arm that sets him apart from the pack.

Abreu had nine assists in 2024, six shy of the career high of 15 Evans totaled in three seasons (1975, '76 and '79). By the '80s, Evans’ reputation preceded him and his opportunities to throw out runners went down.

Watching the Red Sox closely as he does every season, Evans noticed that already happening with Abreu last season.

“The thing is, when you’ve got a good arm, you notice how the runners don’t even think about taking an extra-base hit,” said Evans. “It is also intimidating for the third-base coach. If there’s a runner at second base and a ball is hit to a guy like Abreu, the coach is going to hold him out. Most guys, they wave them on.

“With him, I can see already people are respecting his arm and the way he charges the ball. He charges the ball really hard, which is important as well, and he uses his legs in the outfield throwing-wise like an accomplished outfielder who has got 10 years under his belt.”

Abreu joined Jackie Jensen, Evans, Mookie Betts and Shane Victorino as players who won Gold Gloves for Boston with the primary position of right field.

What makes that group a special one is that Fenway Park is widely considered the toughest right field in baseball.

Consider that the wall has varying heights, from Pesky’s Pole in right field over to the bullpens in right-center. The dimensions vary dramatically, from 302 feet straight down the line to 380 in front of the bullpens.

And you often have to brace for impact running into the wall, which Abreu seems to do once or twice per homestand.

“Some guys can come in there and do a good job, most of them come in there and they’re just not oriented to it,” said Evans. “They have a tough time with the angles and especially the short fence. I’ll tell you what, that fence out in right field, it’s padded, but it’s backed by about 12 to 15 inches of concrete. You hit it and it’s right under your arm, right into your ribs. You reach up and you definitely feel it. You go further over and you get to where it’s waist high. The biggest thing is there’s no foul territory. I mean there is, but it’s so small. If the ball drops in, nine times out of 10, it’s fair.”

As Abreu gains more experience, Evans expects his defense will get even better.

“Abreu, so many good things. Just his jumps, his paths to the ball and he’s still learning,” Evans said. “It’s a great award and Rawlings will sew a gold patch on your glove. It’s just neat. I’m so proud of him. That’s a great award. I hope it’s one of many.”