Jose Dariel Abreu Correa, known professionally as Jose Abreu, is a Cuban-born professional baseball player who currently plays first baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball.
Before his defection from Cuba in August 2013, he had a remarkable career in the Cuban National Series, playing for Cienfuegis.
After he parted ways, he was granted free agency by the MLB and subsequently signed with the Chicago White Sox in October 2013.
Ever since he donned the White Sox short, he has predominantly played as a first baseman but has also contributed as a designated hitter on several occasions.
To be more precise, he has played hitter approximately 20% of his total games played thus far.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Jose Dariel Abreu Correa |
| Known As | Jose Abreu |
| Birthdate | January 29, 1987 |
| Age | 37 Years Old |
| Birthplace | Cruces, Cienfuegos, Cuba |
| Current Residence | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Father | Jose Oriol Abreu |
| Mother | Daysi Correa |
| Siblings | Has Younger Brother |
| Nationality | Cuban |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Maria Correa |
| Built | Athletic |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in/1.91 m/191 cm |
| Weight | 235 lb/106 kg |
| Ethnicity | Latin |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Profession | Professional Baseball Player |
| Education | Not Known |
| Association | Houston Astros |
| MLB Debut | March 31, 2014, Chicago White Sox |
| Playing Career | 2014-Present |
| Position | First Baseman/Designated Hitter |
| Played For | Chicago White Sox |
| Batting Average | .289 |
| Hits | 1,487 |
| Home Runs | 244 |
| Runs Batted In | 882 |
| Net Worth | $50 Million |
| Salary | $19.5 Million |
| Social Media | Not Active |
| Last Update | December 2024 |
Early Life & Family
Jose Abreu was born on January 29, 1987, in Cruces, Cienfuegos, Cuba, to his parents, Daysi Correa and Jose Oriol Abreu.
He has not revealed much about his family in public, but in one of the interviews, he mentioned that he grew up with his younger brother, who also played baseball.
However, he did not provide further details regarding his brother, such as his current whereabouts or name.
It is possible that he may still be playing baseball back home or may have pursued a different career.
While Jose pursued a baseball career in the States, his mother and the rest of his extended family remained in Cuba.
It wasn’t until May 2014 that his parents joined him in the States.
The 2014 MLB All-Star Game became a momentous occasion for Jose, as it marked the first time his mother and father had the chance to witness him play since his departure from Cuba.
This event held great emotional value, symbolizing Abreu’s and his parents’ reunion after a long separation period.
Jose Abreu Jersey
Abreu’s number, #79, is quite unique and holds a distinctive significance.
It was chosen by his mother, Daysi, as a way to make it memorable for people.
Career
Jose Abreu’s baseball journey began in the Cuban National Series, playing for Cienfuegos before his defection from Cuba in August 2013.
He was granted free agency after his departure and signed with the White Sox in October 2013.
During his time with the White Sox, he played with fellow Cuban players Adrian Nieto, Alexei Ramirez, and Dayan Viciedo.
He recorded his first major league hit on March 31, 2014, against the Twins.
After nine successful seasons with the White Sox, Abreu signed a three-year contract with Houston Astros on November 28, 2022.
Jose broke his season-long home run drought on May 28, 2023, by smashing a powerful hit over the fence marking his first home run as an Astro and ending a remarkable 260-at-bat dry spell, the longest he had ever experienced in his career.
Highlights & Awards
Jose Abreu has been in the Major League for quite a while, and the league has recognized him with various awards and accolades for his exceptional skills and determination to the ball game.
Some of his major career highlights include,
- 3× All-Star
- AL MVP (2020)
- All-MLB Second Team (2020)
- AL Rookie of the Year (2014)
- 3× Silver Slugger Award (2014, 2018, 2020)
- AL Hank Aaron Award (2020)
- 2× AL RBI leader (2019, 2020)
Wife & Kids
Jose has been married to Maria, who maintains a discreet presence and does not engage in any form of social media.
However, it is known that accompanying Abreu to Houston was his wife Maria, who embarked on a journey with him in 2013, defecting from Cuba.
They initially went to Haiti before ultimately establishing a permanent home in the United States.
Together, the lovely couple share a son, Dariel, who was just a young child when they left their homeland.
Except for these, not much is known about Jose’s family.
Net Worth & Contracts
Even though Jose has chosen not to reveal his financial standings, based on his career earnings, we can say that he is worth at least $50 million as of December 2024.
His long and illustrious playing career can certainly back this up.
In addition to that, Jose has earned tens of millions more from brand endorsement deals.
According to Spotrac, Jose’s career earnings sit at $133,544,074. But by the time his ongoing contract with Houston ends, he would have made around $175,544,074 just from baseball.
Contracts
On October 29, 2013, Jose signed a six-year $68 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, including a $10 million signing bonus and an $11.33 million average annual salary.
On November 14, 2016, he opted out of the remaining three years, $34 million of his contract with the White Sox, making him arbitration eligible.
However, the White Sox signed him on a one-year $10.825 million contract avoiding arbitration on December 17, 2016.
Similarly, he signed a $13 million contract in 2018 and a $16 million contract in 2019, avoiding arbitration.
On November 22, 2019, he signed a three-year $50 million deal with the White Sox, including a $5 million signing bonus and $16.66 million average annual salary.
After his terms with the White Sox ended, Jose signed a three-year $58.5 million contract with the Houston Astros on November 28, 2022.
This deal includes $58.5 million guaranteed and an annual average salary of $19.5 million. In 2023, Abreu will earn a base salary of $19.5 million, making him one of the highest-paid baseball players.
Unknown Facts
- Jose set a Cuban home run record in 2010–2011 and was named league MVP.
- He was part of the Cuba national baseball team at the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
- In 2021, he, unfortunately, tested positive for COVID-19 upon arriving at spring training. Following the necessary quarantine period and receiving medical clearance, he joined the White Sox for his first practice on February 27th, five days after their initial full-squad workout.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
How old was Jose Abreu in his rookie year?
Jose was 27 years old when he broke into the big leagues on March 31, 2014, with the Chicago White Sox.
Are Bryan Abreu and Jose Abreu related?
The Astros are the first team in MLB history to have three cousins - Jose Altuve, Bryan Abreu, and Jose Abreu - all playing on the same team. They are actually brothers from different mothers.
