How Astros' Jose Abreu rebounded from a career-worst start

Copy Link

Email

Print

Reactions

Like

42

Funny

ARLINGTON, Texas -- In the worst of times for Jose Abreu, among the many days and weeks of professional failure for someone who had had so much success, he ran into Reggie Jackson, the Hall of Famer who serves as an adviser in the Houston Astros organization, at Minute Maid Park. The two men walked across the outfield early one May afternoon, and Abreu, speaking in Spanish, quietly "talked and talked and talked," Jackson recalled late Thursday night. And Jackson listened.

Maybe Abreu sought out Jackson because he's a former MVP, someone who could relate to Abreu's challenges as a slugger with high expectations for himself. Maybe it was because Jackson…