4 Red Sox players who will pleasantly surprise Boston fans in 2024

OF Wilyer Abreu

Wilyer Abreu is one of the prospects the Red Sox have held in high regard over the past few seasons. Young players acquired during Chaim Bloom's tenure as chief baseball officer are finally making it to the majors, and in the few big-league games he played last year, Abreu enjoyed success.

Abreu's offensive production in the minors earned him a call-up to the big leagues late last season. He batted .274/.391/.539, with August being his best month, during which he hit .424. In his 28 games with the Red Sox, Abreu logged a .316/.388/.474 line with a five-hit game against the Orioles.

The 24-year-old's defensive potential is up in the air. His defense is known to be of a lesser quality than his bat, but Baseball Savant ranks Abreu's arm strength in the 97th percentile. While he may mishandle a few plays, he can still make outs with a cannon of that strength.

Abreu possesses the quality that the Red Sox need most: the ability to get on base. The Venezuelan can hit and he walks frequently, a winning combination for quality offense. Chairman Tom Werner said he expects Abreu to get 400 at-bats this season, and Red Sox Nation should be excited to see them.