Bobby Abreu

Through 2004, Abreu is a .305 hitter with 166 home runs and 674 RBI in 1167 games. He has not batted yet in the postseason, owing to the fact that the Twins have not advanced to the World Series in the time that he has been with the team. He also posted the league's tenth best OPS (.971) and eight highest in total bases (312). His OPS is .625, remarkable for a pitcher. Abreu finished the season with a .301 average, 30 home runs and 105 RBI, and ranked among the National League top five in five offensive categories: runs (4th, 118), doubles (4th, 47), stolen bases (3rd, 40), walks (2nd, 127) and on base percentage (5th, .428). Santana is one of the few American League pitchers who is able to hit well, amassing a career batting average of .312 in 16 plate appearances, with 2 runs batted in. Finally, in 2004, he got his first All-Star berth, being voted in as the "32nd man" in online voting on MLB.com. 1 innings.

In 2001 Abreu reached career highs in home runs (31) and RBI (110), and hit .308 in 2002 and .300 a year later. In a five-season career, Santana has compiled a 43-18 record with 658 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA in 619. His .335 average that season ranked third in the National League and was the highest posted by a Phillies player since outfielder Tony González hit .339 in 1967. Following a brief slump in May 2005, Santana worked on improving his pitching form and was immediately rewarded with a seven-inning, two-run outing against the Toronto Blue Jays in which the Twins won 7-2. In 1999 he made a brief run at the batting title. In his second game, he rocked the Chicago White Sox with 11 strikeouts as the Twins rolled to a 5-2 win. In his first season with the Phillies, Abreu led his team with a .312 batting average and collected 17 home runs, 74 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 151 games, with 271 putouts and 17 assists in right field. In the first inning of 2005, Santana struggled, giving up four runs, but he quickly regained his composure and returned to his Cy Young-winning form in an 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Despite the fact that Astros and Devil Rays both deeming him expendable, Abreu firmly established himself as one of the most promising young hitters and strong-armed rightfielders in the game. He easily won the AL Cy Young Award over Schilling with all 28 first-place votes. Left unprotected in the 1997 expansion draft when Houston decided to keep fellow Venezuelan outfielder Richard Hidalgo, Abreu was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but minutes later he was traded to the Phillies for shortstop Kevin Stocker. Opponents stole only six bases in seven attempts against him, and his 20 victories ranked him second behind only Curt Schilling, who won 21 games for the Red Sox. He played only 74 games over two seasons. Santana finished in good form with a 20-6 record, and lead the American League pitchers in strikeouts (265), ERA (2.61), strikeouts per 9 IP (10.46), WHIP (0.92), batting average allowed (.192), OBP (.249), SLG (.315) and OPS (.564), walking only 54 in 228 innings. Abreu started his major league career with the Houston Astros on September 1, 1996. Beside this, Santana set a team season record with 265 strikeouts, surpassing the old 258 mark registered by Bert Blyleven in 1973.

. It is interesting to compare that Santana's other second-half numbers, 11.13 strikeouts per nine innings, 1.21 ERA, 4.74 hits per nine innings, and 6.73 baserunners per nine innings, are mostly better than Bob Gibson's famous 1968 numbers (7.91 SO per 9 IP, 1.12 ERA, 5.84 hits per 9 IP, 7.77 baserunners per 9 IP).
. He became the first pitcher since 1961 to give up four or fewer hits in ten straight starts, and his 13-0 record broke the old Major League second-half mark shared between Burt Hooton and Rick Sutcliffe. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. His streak of dominance has been compared to Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan. Bob Kelly Abreu [ah-BRAY-oo] (born March 11, 1974 in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball right fielder who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2004 Santana enjoyed one of the great second halves of modern times.

Abreu is the first player in Phillies history and the first Venezuelan big leaguer to ever steal 30 bases and hit 30 home runs in one single season. He went 8-0 after August and pitched the ALDS opening game against the Yankees. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum displays the bat used by Abreu to hit the first home run in the Phillies’ new ballpark, Citizens Bank Park on April 12, 2004. A long reliever most of his career, in 2003 Santana took over a starting role after pitching in the bullpen nearly four months. Abreu's longest homer was measured at 517'. His pitches are too close to take, but difficult to drive, then batters find themselves lunging after balls that are down and out of the strike zone. He set records with 24 home runs in a single round and 41 overall, topping Miguel Tejada's previous marks of 15 and 27, set a year earlier. He works quickly and throws a 95 mph (153 km/h) fastball, a hard slider and a changeup.

At Comerica Park –a field normally considered a "pitcher's park"–, Abreu won the Home Run Derby. Santana is tough on both righthanded and lefthanded hitters. Louis Cardinals Jim Edmonds. Finally, he made his debut in the 2000 season. Abreu was voted a starter of the NL outfield for the All-Star Game, finishing second in fan voting, behind St. Selected by the Florida Marlins from Houston in the 1999 rule 5 draft, Santana was traded to the Twins. He also became the first player in major league history to hit nine home runs in a 10-game stretch. Born in Tovar, Mérida State, Venezuela, Santana was signed by the Houston Astros as a non-draft free agent in 1995.

Abreu also led the NL in slugging average (.792), on-base percentage (.535), walks (30) and was tied for the league lead with 30 RBI. . In May, Abreu was honored as the Player of the Month in the National League, after hit .396 and 11 home runs. Johan Alexander Santana (born March 13, 1979) is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who plays for the Minnesota Twins. Bobby Bonds had seven straight 20/20 seasons (1969-75), while his son Barry had nine in a row (1990-98). Top 10 Cy Young Award (7th, 2003). One of three ML players with seven consecutive 20-HR, 20 stolen base seasons. Led league in all but two statistical categories (2004).

.929 career OPS [18th among active players, 39th on the all-time list] (1996-2004). Led league in win-loss percentage (.800, 2003). .517 career slugging average [25th between active players, 62nd on the all-time list] (1996-2004). Cy Young Award (2004, unanimous selection). .412 career on base percentage [6th among active players, 30th on all-time list] (1996-2004). All-Star (2005). 210 career stolen bases [ranks him 25th among active players] (1996-2004).

Rested only in 12 games in four consecutive seasons (2001-04). Led league in games played (162, 2001). 7-time top 10 in walks (1998-2004). Twice reached the 30-30 club (2001, 2004).

6-time hit .300 or more in seven regular seasons (1998-2000, 2002-04). Led league in power/speed number (34.3, 2004). Led league in triples (11, 1999). Led league in doubles (50, 2002).

Silver Slugger Award (2004). Twice All-Star (2004-05).