The Boston Red Sox began their 2025 season on a high note with a road win over the Texas Rangers, and you will probably never guess who carried the team to victory.
With all eyes on Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman making their regular-season debuts for Boston, it was outfielder Wilyer Abreu who stole the show. The Red Sox were trailing 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning when Abreu blasted a towering solo home run to right field off Nathan Eovaldi.
That was a big swing, but it was hardly the biggest one of the day for Abreu. The game was still tied at 2-2 when the 25-year-old came to the plate in the top of the ninth inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Abreu hit a line-drive home run off Luke Jackson to put Boston on top 5-2.
Right-hander Justin Slaten preserved the 5-2 victory with a perfect ninth inning. Aroldis Chapman, another flashy new addition for the Red Sox, got the win after pitching a scoreless eighth.
But the day belonged to Abreu.
Abreu is a lesser-known player, though not completely unknown. He played in 132 games for the Red Sox last season and won a Gold Glove Award. He batted .263 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI across his first two seasons with the Red Sox. The Venezuelan had breakout potential entering 2025, but no one expected his two home runs to be the difference for Boston on Opening Day.
If Abreu’s heroic performance on Thursday is a sign of things to come, Red Sox fans have reason to be excited.
