José Abreu received a bear hug from Gavin Sheets, who came over from the visitors clubhouse a few hours before the Chicago White Sox opened their series against the San Diego Padres.
Abreu then met with reporters in the Sox dugout as Luis Robert Jr. and Miguel Vargas watched. When the session wrapped up, Abreu and Robert chatted and then posed for photos.
The first baseman returned to Rate Field and threw a ceremonial first pitch to Robert before Friday’s game.
“A lot of feelings,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “It was a great place for me and I appreciate being here. My heart always will be with the White Sox.
“This is my place, this is my home. When I was walking in, it was a lot of feelings and memories. … It’s very special.”
Abreu signed a six-year, $68 million deal with the Sox in October 2013 as a free agent from Cuba, and he spent the first nine of his 11 major-league seasons (2014-22) with the franchise. He earned American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2014 and was named the AL MVP in 2020.
He ranks among the top 10 in several Sox career offensive categories, including third with 243 home runs and fifth with 863 RBIs. He made three All-Star teams (2014, 2018-19) and Silver Slugger Awards (2014, 2019-20) with the club.
“Certainly from the other side watching him, you know what kind of player he is,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “And then being here and hearing stories about him, you get to realize how much of an impact he made in this clubhouse and in this city. That lines up with the kind of person he appears to be from the other side.”
Abreu spent 2023 and a portion of 2024 with the Houston Astros.
Asked if he was retiring Friday with the Sox, Abreu, 38, said in English, “No, no, no, no.”
He continued through the interpreter, “Just God knows what’s ahead of us. Whatever he decides.”
Reflecting on some of his favorite memories at the ballpark and with the organization, Abreu thanked many people.
White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf talks with first baseman José Abreu before a game against the Guardians on May 9, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
“Ever since last night, I started just thinking about all the people that helped me to get to this point, helped me be the person and the player that I am,” Abreu said. “(Managers) Robin (Ventura), (Rick) Renteria, (Tony) La Russa, all of them helped me to be the player that I am and made me grow as a professional too.
“And (Chairman) Jerry (Reinsdorf). I wouldn’t be here without Jerry’s support. That’s very special. He’s a very special person in my life.”
Abreu played in two playoff series with the Sox, the 2020 wild-card round and the 2021 AL Division Series.
“We can’t think about what didn’t happen,” Abreu said of the ALDS loss to the Astros. “What I do remember was the very special game with (Leury García’s) homer (in Game 3) and the celebration.”
The reception he received from former teammates touched him.
“That means that I might have done something good for them, for the team and for the fans and the city,” Abreu said. “The funny thing is ever since I landed here this morning, people started recognizing me in the airport. To me that was moving.”
Former White Sox player José Abreu throws a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Padres on Sept. 19, 2025, at Rate Field. (Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)
Abreu expressed his gratitude to the fans.
“I want them to remember me like a very respectful person,” he said. “I respect them. I gave everything I have for them and to the game. I would like them to remember me in that way.”
Martín Pérez’s season over
The Sox placed Pérez on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left shoulder strain. The left-hander suffered the injury during Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
He went 1-6 with a 3.54 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 11 appearances (10 starts) this season. Pérez also was on the injured list from April 19-Aug. 12 with left elbow inflammation.
Venable described Pérez’s 2025 as “really special.”
“He believed in this group and believed in these guys and really took on that responsibility of being the dude everyone looks to, including myself,” Venable said. “I don’t think anyone in there has as much experience as Martín and has been through what he’s been through. He was just an incredible leader for us on and off the field.
“To go through what he went through and to be an example for these guys to go through that adversity and come back and pitch like he did, just a special guy and we were lucky to have him here.”
In Friday’s corresponding move, the Sox recalled pitcher Cam Booser from Triple-A Charlotte.
Originally Published: September 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM CDT