Red-Hot Red Sox Rookie Delivers Emotional Two-Homer Game In Wake of Tragedy

This was going to be a memorable weekend for Boston Red Sox rookie Wilyer Abreu no matter what he did on the field Sunday.

After Boston beat the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers, the 25-year-old outfielder revealed his grandmother passed away. He only learned the news the night before, and carried a heavy heart into the game:

On the field, Abreu couldn’t have done much more to honor his late grandmother’s memory.

Abreu hit two home runs in an emotional 7-2 victory, allowing the Red Sox to win the rubber match of a critical series on the road.

Running onto the field after hitting a game-tying home run in the fourth inning, Abreu could be seen wiping tears from his eyes:

Abreu also hit a home run in the sixth inning, a three-run blast off reliever Walter Pennington that put the game out of reach.

Pennington is the first left-handed pitcher Abreu, a left-handed hitter, has ever homered against. Sunday marked his 112th career game.

“For me today, it was a very important day, obviously to be able to go out there and perform,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “I felt happy for the game but sad at the same time for what just happened.”

It wasn’t the first standout game for Abreu this season and it likely won’t be the last. He’s hitting .271 with a .334 on-base percentage and .496 slugging percentage in 83 games. That’s good for a 125 OPS+ — third among Boston’s everyday players and first among all qualifying rookies.

According to Baseball Reference, Abreu’s 2.2 Wins Above Replacement ranks first among all American League rookies. His 2.1 WAR, according to FanGraphs’ version of the stat, ranks third in the AL.

Whether or not Abreu becomes Boston’s first Rookie of the Year since Dustin Pedroia in 2007, he’s poised to play a pivotal role in the AL Wild Card Race for the surprising Red Sox.

Boston (59-51) currently sits 2.5 games behind the Kansas City Royals for the third and final AL Wild Card berth. A series win over the defending champions on the road doesn’t hurt.

Abreu is nearly as responsible as anyone for the Red Sox’s surprising playoff push.

“We’re all here for (Abreu) and we’ve got his back,” outfielder Jarren Duran told regional sports network NESN after the game. “We all love him and we’re going to support him as much as we can. To see him do that, it’s an awesome thing.”