Major League Baseball has announced that Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox will be the starting first baseman for the American League team in the 2018 All-Star game.  This will be Abreu’s second time participating and first time starting in the All-Star game, his first appearance took place in 2014 during his rookie season.

Abreu has been an impressive hitter throughout his career, finishing with greater than 30 HRs and 100 RBI in every season but one (25 HRs in 2016) and boasting a .296 BA and .869 OPS for his career.  With those statistics most would think that Abreu would have made more than two of a possible five All-Star teams through his career. Usually Abreu starts the season off slow and catches fire through the last couple months of the season, a little late for fan voters.  This year Abreu came out of the gate swinging the bat well and clearly caught the eye of voters early since he has led AL first basemen in votes since the first totals were announced.

Abreu is the first White Sox All-Star game starter since 1996 when the fans voted in Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.