Getting to Know Hooks RHP Bryan Abreu and RHP Ronel Blanco (kind of)

I wasn't planning on interviewing Bryan Abreu last weekend when I headed down to Corpus Christi for my first minor league road trip of the season. Abreu had just been promoted to AA and had barely had a chance to get his feet wet at the new level. But Abreu did something that I rarely see from the Latin players in the organization. He volunteered to talk with me, emphasizing a firm confidence in his English language skills and his poise as a professional.

Bryan Abreu - April 2019

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Hooks Manager Omar Lopez hasn't spent much time around Abreu, but that same poise and confidence impressed him when he saw the young right-hander in spring training. As a new member of the Astros 40-man roster, Abreu was in the big league clubhouse for the first time this spring. According to Lopez, when A.J. Hinch invited him to address the clubhouse, Abreu "stood up and he started to respond to everything in English, very professional, very calm, very firm." Combining that self-assurance with what Lopez had already heard about Abreu's abilities on the mound led Lopez to say to himself, "That's a ballplayer right there."

The Astros added Abreu to the 40-man roster last November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Currently the #8 prospect in the Astros system according to MLB Pipeline, Abreu hasn't gotten off to the best start with the Hooks, but at barely 22, he has plenty of time to catch up to the league.

In addition to Abreu, I also spoke VERY briefly with RHP Ronel Blanco. Blanco was with Abreu for moral support, but I turned the camera on him until my phone decided that I needed to delete a few things and shut us off in the middle of our conversation. Blanco is in his fourth season with the Astros and his second season of working solely out of the bullpen. I was a bit taken aback when he told me that his fastball touched 98 because I had no idea he was throwing that hard. He also had a tough reception following his promotion to Corpus Christi last season, but has been mostly solid in 2019.

Ronel Blanco - April 2019

Photo by Jayne Hansen

After the interview, I mentioned to Abreu that I was a little surprised by his eagerness to participate. He again surprised me by saying that he wants people to know who he is. He wants to connect with the fans and let them know that he is thankful for their support. By the time he gets to the big leagues, he hopes to have already established a group of fans who love him for engaging with them, signing autographs for them and treating them well. I thought back to something else that Lopez said about Abreu having his feet firmly on the ground. Yeah, Abreu may only be 22, but he seems wise beyond his years.

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