SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Change isn't always easy. But for the New York Yankees' No. 7 prospect, it paid off.
Scottsdale Scorpions right-hander Albert Abreu has thrived since being traded from Houston in 2016, and on Tuesday he was named the Arizona Fall League pitcher of the week.
Abreu is grateful to be "on an organization who paid a lot attention" to his play and "took a bet" on him, he said through interpreter and teammate Estevan Florial (Yankees' No. 3).
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Abreu posted the most dominant start of the Fall League season on Oct. 17, striking out eight in five scoreless innings while yielding just two hits and two walks. His 11 strikeouts rank third in the league.
Abreu said he was pleased to earn the award and that with the help of coaches, he has been working on his "mechanics, delivery and command on the ball."
"He came here to develop his skills to be a baseball player," Florial added.
Abreu was part of the Astros' minor league system before a trade that involved veteran catcher Brian McCann being shipped off for Abreu and Jorge Guzman. In his time in the minors, Abreu owns a 3.20 ERA in 65 appearances (50 starts) with more than a strikeout per inning.
Being so close to the Major Leagues can be distracting for some but for Abreu, he is simply focused on the here and now.
"(Making it to the big leagues) means you've got to keep working to get better," Abreu said.
It seems Abreu is determined to get there.