Levine: Jose Abreu's Home Run Swing May Have Returned

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- His numbers are down compared to last year at this time, and White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu knows he must improve his individual play to achieve what he's truly driven by -- team victories.

It's been on that offensive end that Chicago has struggled in a 27-30 start, as it ranks third-to-last in baseball in runs scored. For his part, Abreu is hitting .279 with 10 homers, 35 RBIs and an .822 OPS.

"I don't feel right now that I have good feel in my approach," Abreu said via translator Billy Russo. "You have to fight through it. I am working hard, but right now my main goal is get my work in and help the team any way I can. Maybe I am not hitting like I did (last year), but I can play better defense and run the bases well, drive in runs. I try to do the little things well to help our team win games."

Abreu has been a champion of Chicago charity work and Cuban outreach programs since joining the White Sox ahead of the 2014 season. To a man, he's respected and admired by his teammates. The baseball part has gotten more difficult.

This is due to the other pitchers in the league knowing him better in his second season after he put up eye-popping numbers as a rookie: a .317 batting average with 36 homers and 107 RBIs.

On the flip side, Abreu also has a better book on the pitchers in the league with a season-and-a-third under his belt.

"We all know how the other teams use the statistics to help them," Abreu said. "I know that as well and use the technology myself to prepare. My mindset right now is to try to use that and as I had said do the little things to win games."

Abreu showed signs of his prodigious power Tuesday night, when he hit a lined shot homer off Houston ace Dallas Keuchel in the sixth inning that gave Chicago its first lead and proved to be big in a 4-2 win.

With his current numbers, Abreu projects for 28 homers and 99 RBIs. Those would be a bit shy of last year's production but still impressive.

"I feel very good right now," Abreu said. "I want to thank Alan (Thomas, strength and conditioning coach). He is the one pushing us and getting us ready and to stay healthy during the season."

Abreu has drastically changed his body type with dedicated workouts and better eating habits since moving to the U.S from Cuba. He's also one of the leaders for manager Robin Ventura.

"He has continued to have good at-bats and take what is given to him," Ventura said. "He is never trying to just hit a home run. He stays in a solid hitting mode and retains good balance in his swing and mindset.

"As much as we don't hit a lot of homers, Jose is always capable of it," Ventura said. "It was nice to see him hit one, especially off a guy like (Keuchel)."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.