Abreu rooting on Pujols as his friend chases history

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

José Abreu has 243 career home runs, ranking third all-time in franchise history behind Frank Thomas (448) and Paul Konerko (432). Abreu also holds sole possession of 257th place in Major League history, one ahead of a group of seven tied with 242 homers, including current Astros manager Dusty Baker.

Think about this enormous total for Abreu over nine seasons with the White Sox and then compare it to Albert Pujols, whose 698 homers leave him fourth all-time.

“It’s an incredible number. That’s something outstanding to have that number,” Abreu said through interpreter Billy Russo. “But you know what? [Pujols] deserves it.

“He has worked for it and I’m very happy for him, and I’m rooting for him. He deserves all the good things he has got in his career.”

Abreu is more than a casual observer where Pujols is concerned, as they developed a friendship beginning in 2014, when Abreu first met Pujols during Spring Training. Todd Steverson, who was Abreu’s first hitting coach and Pujols’ hitting coach in the Minor Leagues as part of the Cardinals' organization, introduced the two.

Abreu and Pujols talk frequently, although Abreu smiled and said there’s been no talk between the two about the latter’s impending retirement. He called Pujols’ second half of the ’22 season “amazing,” with 13 homers, 33 RBIs and a 1.049 OPS at age 42.

“One of the first biggest pieces of advice he gave me was to take everything with calm, especially the first month with the cold weather in Chicago,” Abreu said. “He told me, ‘Hey, you have to understand during those first months, because of the cold, the ball won’t run as it will run during the summer.’ Just try to learn and understand that and it will help me.

“We talk a lot about hitting. And we talk in the offseason a lot, too. A couple of years ago, he invited me to his house in the Dominican Republic. I couldn’t make it and he was mad at me because of that, but that’s the kind of relationship we have. We talk about everything.”