Bleacher Report reminds Red Sox fans how deeply underrated Wilyer Abreu still is

When the Boston Red Sox traded away Christian Vázquez at the 2022 trade deadline for Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez, Red Sox Nation was left confused and unhappy. A staple of the organization, who was part of the 2018 World Series team and the 2021 squad that reached the ALCS, was gone for two players who weren't even ranked in the top 15 prospects in the SoxProspects end-of-season update.

Then in 2023, Abreu took off in Worcester and earned himself a late-season call-up. He hit .316 with an .862 OPS in 28 games, and turned that into a spot on the 2024 roster.

Abreu stayed with Boston all season and hit .253 with a .781 OPS and won his first Gold Glove as a rookie. He came back in 2025, and while he only played 115 games due to injury, he had a career high in home runs (22) and RBIs (69), posted a 3.2 bWAR, and won his second gold glove in right.

Once a no-name prospect to Red Sox Nation, Abreu has become a fan favorite, with sights on even bigger achievements for 2026. Red Sox fans know just how good Abreu is, but he is still underrated by the national media.

Wilyer Abreu's placement in Bleacher Report's right fielder rankings don't match the reality Red Sox fans know

In Bleacher Report's rankings of MLB Right fielders, Abreu came in ninth, ranked behind Brandon Nimmo and Seiya Suzuki, among others. It really shows just how little Abreu is valued.

Nimmo will be 33 years old by the end of March and has already had worse seasons by bWAR than Abreu the last two years. While he's been more available than Abreu, he is also transitioning to right field in Texas, a position he hasn't played since 2020. Nimmo has posted a net zero Outs Above Average the last three seasons while Abreu has logged +14 the last two. The only thing Nimmo provides over Abreu is being on the field, but that isn't enough to rank him above Abreu.

Suzuki was the Cubs' DH for over 100 games last season. While he is projected to go back into the field due to Kyle Tucker's departure, that should only hurt Suzuki's standing because he is a negative defender. Suzuki is currently a better offensive player, but putting him fifth in the rankings, four spots ahead of Abreu, when he's pretty much a DH, is ridiculous.

Abreu has been the best defender in right field the last two seasons. He is no slouch offensively and is still growing. If the WBC is any indication, he is going to cement himself in the top five at the position. For now, he just needs to prove everybody wrong.