Friends’ Central’s Julian Abreu is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The junior second baseman has been a potent hitter for the back-to-back Friends’ Schools League baseball champions, batting .338 with 5 home runs, 6 doubles, 27 RBIs, a .439 on-base percentage and a 1.115 OPS. Throughout the season, he has come up with some big hits for the Phoenix during their undefeated run through the Friends’ Schools League.
Q: What do you think has been the most important thing you’ve learned recently regarding hitting?
A: I try to keep it simple at the plate. If you try to do too much, you won’t get the result you want – whether it’s moving a runner, or getting a run across.
Q: As a hitter, after facing a pitcher a couple of times in a game, you probably have a better idea of what he’s going to throw you late in a game. Can you give us an example of how this has worked in your favor?
A: Against Pope John Paul this season, my first two at-bats I saw a lot of pitches and went 0-for-2. I noticed during those at-bats that their pitcher would throw me a fastball, and if it missed the plate, the second pitch would also be a fastball. On my third at-bat, on a 1-0 count, I hit a single; then on my fourth at-bat, on a 1-0 count, I hit a home run.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 9 for Friends’ Central baseball – why did you choose that number?
A: When I was little, I wanted Jackie Robinson’s No. 42, but then I realized that number was retired by all major-league teams. But then I found out that Jackie Robinson wore No. 9 in his first spring training with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1946, so I started wearing No. 9.
Q: What is your favorite course at Friends’ Central? What do you think you would like to major in at college?
A: My favorite course at Friends’ Central is definitely math and pre-calculus. I think I might like to major in business management – there are a lot of possible opportunities that can come out of that major.
Fun facts – Julian Abreu
Favorite movie: The Hangover.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Puffin on Zooties by Future.
Favorite team: Philadelphia Phillies.
Family members: parents Victor and Dana, younger brother Lucas.
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
