2013: Abreu signed with the Astros as an international free agent, out of the Dominican Republic, via scouts Oz Ocampo, Marc Russon and Rafael Belen. 

In 2019, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Bryan as the 10th-best prospect in the Astros organization. He moved up to #5 in the offseason before 2020 spring training, and he stayed 5th in the spring of 2021.

Abreu struggled in four relief appearances for Houston at the start of 2020 before the Astros sent him down to their alternate training site in Corpus Christi.

SUSPENSION

Oct 21, 2023: Astros reliever Bryan Abreu received a two-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for intentionally hitting the Rangers’ Adolis García with a pitch, MLB announced. Michael Hill, MLB's senior vice president for on-field operations, made the announcement.

Abreu hit García in the left shoulder with a 99 mph fastball -- the first pitch of the at-bat -- in Game 5 of the ALCS at Globe Life Field. That sparked a benches-clearing incident as García immediately confronted Astros catcher Martín Maldonado.

“My plan was to get the ball up and in, then slider down and away,” Abreu said later. “I just missed the pitch.”

According to the league’s statement, all six of the umpires deemed Abreu’s throw intentional. The Astros pitcher was immediately ejected, along with García and Houston manager Dusty Baker.

Baker and García were later fined, as were Houston pitcher Lance McCullers and Rangers pitcher Matt Bush. McCullers and Bush will not be allowed to sit in the dugout for the remainder of the ALCS.

The incident occurred in García’s first at-bat following his three-run home run off Justin Verlander that put the Rangers ahead in the sixth, when García spiked his bat and began a long trot around the bases.  “The guy hits a three-run homer; the next time up, he gets smoked there,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. “I'd be upset, too, if I was Doli.” 

Houston went on to win the game, 5-4, thanks to a three-run homer by Jose Altuve in the top of the ninth. The Astros have a 3-2 lead in the series.

Abreu has the option to appeal the two-game suspension. He will be permitted to remain on the active roster and pitch in the postseason while appealing.  (J Kreuz - MLB.com - Oct 21, 2023)

Oct 23, 2023: Astros reliever Bryan Abreu's two-game suspension for hitting Adolis García with a pitch in Game 5 of the ALCS was upheld upon Abreu's appeal, but it will be deferred until the first two games of the 2024 season, Major League Baseball announced.

March 30, 2024: Bryan was activated after serving the two-day suspension.

April 30-May 2, 2025: Bryan was on the paternity list. The pitcher now has a son.

TRANSACTIONS  

Abreu has a 92-96 mph FASTBALL that he can keep at or near the strike zone, with a 60 grade. He has a 60 grade 12-to-6 CURVEBALL with elite-level rotation of over 3,000 revolutions per minute. It has excellent shape to it. and is a work of art. That curve is pure swing-and-miss, even when he puts in the strike zone. He also has a 70 grade 84-86 mph SLIDER that dives down and away from righthanded hitters. It’s a plus-plus pitch that gets swings and misses.

He had a CHANGEUP, which rated only a 30 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale, so he has pretty much dropped it.

Bryan has only 40 grade control, and that is because his upper and lower halves get disconnected in his delivery. If Abreu can straighten out his control problems, he has the stuff to pitch in the middle of a rotation. (Ben Badler - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2021)

The arm speed and effort to spin such a dominating breaker ensures that he has always had below-average control as he struggles to sync his arm and his lower half. His release point is inconsistent. (J.J. Cooper - BA Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2020)

2019 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 32.2% of the time; Change 2.1%; Slider less than 1%; and his Curve 65.1% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 95.2 mph, Change 89.4, Slider 86.6, and Curve 86.23 mph.

2020 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 38.6% of the time; Sinker 3%; Slider 42.6%; and his Curve 15.8% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 92.6 mph, Sinker 92.7, Slider 85, and Curve 82.7 mph.

2022 Season Pitch Usage/Avg. Velo: Fastball 44% - 97.4 mph; Slider 47.4% - 88.3 mph; Curve 8% - 84.8 mph. 

Bryan falls off the mound to the first base side, which affects his below-average 40 grade control.

Abreu has one of the game’s best curveballs but often struggles to command much of anything else. Control is Bryan's biggest hindrance.

"It’s a matter of commanding it and getting ahead,” Astros' GM Jeff Luhnow said. "It’s the same with all these guys, especially the young Latin players sometimes. We see the potential there and we’re excited."

Abreu sits 93-95 mph with his four-seam fastball and can also throw a slider. He touched 96 in his major league debut, with adrenaline running through his veins and a more clear portrait of his importance to the Astros' present.

Spring 2020: Astros: Bryan Abreu, RHP (No. 5): Signed for just $40,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, Abreu has one of the better curveballs among prospects and also can flash a wipeout slider. He overwhelmed hitters with his breaking stuff during Spring Training, holding hitters to a .120 average with 13 strikeouts in eight scoreless innings.

March 27, 2021:  Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu said following his outing against the Mets in Port St. Lucie that he was informed he was going to make the Opening Day roster. Abreu, who struck out three batters and allowed two runs on three hits in the Astros' 8-3 loss, said manager Dusty Baker told him earlier in the day he made the club as a reliever.

“It made me excited,” the 23-year-old said.

Abreu, the Astros’ No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, began camp as a long shot to make the team.

“He’s throwing the ball well,” Baker said. “We didn’t just put him on the team. He pitched his way on the team, and he is this year where we hoped he was last year at this time. He wasn’t ready last year, but this is a new year and he’s conditioned himself and worked himself back into shape and is on the team.”

Abreu, had reported to last year’s summer workouts at Minute Maid Park out of shape following a COVID-19 diagnosis.

He appeared in only four games for the Astros in 2020 and allowed 10 of the 20 batters he faced to reach base. His stock dropped. Abreu reported to camp in much better shape this year. In 10 1/3 innings in Grapefruit League play, he allowed five earned runs, struck out nine and walked two. (Mar 22, 2021) 

Bryan Abreu's control problems have been an issue, but he has a pair of power breaking balls that could be huge weapons in relief. Because he’s built up his pitch count, he would also provide length out of the bullpen, which will be important in a year when pitching depth is going to be tested.

The confirmation that Abreu is going to be on the roster likely sets the Astros’ pitching staff four days before Opening Day. Baker announced Zack Greinke, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr. and José Urquidy would start the first four games. The fifth starting spot is between Luis Garcia and Brandon Bielak, with the other headed to the bullpen. (B McTaggart - MLB.com - March 27, 2021)

2022 Season: When you’re coming off a year where you posted a 5.75 ERA in 31 games as a reliever, there’s no way you can expect to make a quality jump like the one Bryan Abreu had in 2022. Not even if your advanced stats suggested a turnaround might have been on the way. After a difficult 2021, Abreu was an absolute star for the Astros in the championship season.

Abreu dominated from the beginning to the end. His start to the season was pretty average but then he turned into a savage reliever that only hung zeroes and got hitters out.

Bryan Abreu’s stages:

April 8 – May 23:

13 Gms, 19.1 IP, 18 H, 7 ER, 8 BB, 27 K, 3.26 ERA, .685 OPS

May 28 – October 5:

42 Gms, 41 IP, 27 H, 6 ER, 18 BB, 61 K, 1.32 ERA, .512 OPS

All these numbers combined for a season he finished with a 1.94 ERA across 60 1/3 innings with four wins, no losses, two saves, and eight holds. Add 88 strikeouts, a 2.12 FIP, a 1.177 WHIP, and a 13.1 SO/9 mark and you’ll get pure dominance. Armed with a 97.2 MPH fastball, that’s the kind of season Abreu just had for Houston.

In 2022, there were only six relievers that logged at least 60 innings, 85 strikeouts, and closed the season with an ERA of 2.00 or below. The other five are Cardinals’ Ryan Helsley, Mets’ Edwin Díaz, Twins’ Jhoan Durán, Brewers’ Devin Williams, and Rangers’ Brock Burke.

Thanks to Abreu’s great second half, it got even better! He was one of only four pitchers in the Majors to register an ERA not higher than 0.70 across at least 25 games after the All-Star Game. Braves’ Raisel Iglesias, Guardians’ Sam Hentges, and Dodgers’ Evan Phillips were the others.

In the second half, 25-year-old Abreu was just nasty. That’s what his 0.66 ERA and his 0.915 WHIP over 27 1/3 innings said. In 27 appearances to finish the regular season, Abreu surrendered only 15 hits and two earned runs with 10 walks and 39 strikeouts. Over the final two months of the campaign, opponents hit for a .173/.256/.235 slash line (.490 OPS) against him.

In high-leverage scenarios, Abreu took it to an even higher level. Rivals went 3-for-31 against him with one extra-base hit and 15 punchouts, besides averaging .097/.237/.129. (Juan Páez - Dec 15, 2022)

2022-2023 Seasons: Abreu has been an elite setup man in Houston with a sub-2.00 ERA each season. He averaged 97.6 mph on his fastball last season. 

Sept 29-Nov 2, 2020: Bryan was on the IL.