Osvaldo Abreu

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #30 prospect in 2018
  Abreu was challenged in 2017 with a full season at Double-A Harrisburg after a strong second half in 2016 in the Carolina and Arizona Fall leagues. The 23-year-old played exclusively shortstop for the second straight season, and while he struggled during the first half--hitting .237/.284/.325 from April through June--he improved in the second half and hit .258/.320/.352 from July through September. Abreu has strong, quick hands at the plate and can turn on fastballs on the inner half, but he often gets too pull-happy and is still learning to hit the other way. The majority of his doubles were hit to the left side of the field. Despite another poor defensive year by Abreu, the Nationals think he can turn into a solid defender at shortstop, where he has a good arm but remains inconsistent. He has a tendency to carry his offensive struggles into the field, and vice versa. Abreu will likely repeat in Double-A in 2018, and the Nationals will hope he can carry his late-season improvements over a full season and make strides in preventing his failures from snowballing into other areas of his game.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #21 prospect in 2017
  Abreu has advanced steadily in the minor leagues since the Nationals signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2012. After a tough first half in 2016 with high Class A Potomac, he improved in the second half and finished the year with a solid showing in the Arizona Fall League. Much of Abreu's improvement at the plate was as a result of a more consistent approach. He isn't a power hitter, but produces good bat speed and has some pop when turns on the ball. He is patient at the plate has drawn a good amount of walks at every level, boosting his on-base percentage to above-average levels even when his batting average is low. He's an above-average runner and a threat to steal. Earlier in his career, Abreu split his time between second base and shortstop, but he played shortstop exclusively with Potomac. His athleticism, hands and arm strength give him a chance to become a solid defender at the position. Abreu will try to build on his late-season momentum as he advances to Double-A Harrisburg in 2017.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #15 prospect in 2016
  Abreu finished an otherwise lackluster 2014 season on a high note, ending the year with a 12-game hitting streak. He carried that momentum into 2015, and he turned in a solid campaign at low Class A Hagerstown, ranking second in the South Atlantic League with 74 runs and fifth with 35 doubles. Abreu still is developing physically and learning at the plate, but he showed more discipline in 2015. He isn't a power hitter, but he produces good bat speed and drives the ball into the gaps. He's an above-average runner and a threat to steal. Defensively, Abreu has split his time between shortstop and second base. To stay at shortstop, he'll have to become more consistent, for he committed 25 errors in 79 games at the position, but he has the hands and arm strength to develop into a solid defender. He will try to build on his positive momentum as he advances to high Class A Potomac in 2016.