Abreu said he decided to leave his birthplace during the World Baseball Classic in 2013, and he made it out of the country with his brother-in-law on Abreu's first attempt to defect.  Believing he would drown while defecting, Abreu eventually reached Haiti before making his way to the Dominican Republic.  The White Sox and Abreu agreed on a six-year, $68 million contract during the offseason last year. At the time, the deal was a record for an international player.  Abreu hit .317, with a .383 on-base percentage and a .581 slugging percentage in 2014 and was named AL Rookie of the Year. In 145 games, the All-Star first baseman had 107 RBIs and 36 home runs.
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