DETROIT — Before he made his major-league debut this season, left fielder Eloy Jimenez made a goal for himself: He wanted to hit 30 home runs.
Jimenez got off to a slow start, which was frustrating at times. He had only five home runs in his first 38 games.
But on Sunday, Jimenez finally accomplished his goal when he hit a two-run 424-foot bomb over the left center-field wall at Comerica Park. That homer put Jimenez in good company. He joined Jose Abreu (who had 36 in 2014) and Ron Kittle (35 in 1983) as the only Sox players to surpass 30 home runs in their rookie campaigns.
“It means a lot,” Jimenez said after the Sox’ 6-3 loss to the Tigers. “As a rookie, you just want to be on the book and today I made it. And I feel really happy for that.”
Jimenez missed almost two weeks with a nerve contusion in July. It was his second injury this season — his first was a high ankle sprain that kept him out for three weeks.
When he came back from the injured list in July, he was concerned that it might take him some time to get his timing back.
But since then, Jimenez has been electric and this weekend’s three-game Sox-Tigers series is proof of that.
On Friday, he hit his second career grand slam to help the Sox beat the Tigers in a 10-1 blowout victory. In total, he went 6-for-14 with six RBI.
“I feel really good,” said Jimenez, who leads the majors this month in RBI with 23. “I feel like I’m back.”
The way Jimenez has been able to produce down the stretch is the epitome of the Sox’ future. He’s hope for what’s to come.
“Fantastic to see him continue to bloom,” manager Rick Renteria said. “We’re really forward to the possibilities of what he’s going to ultimately settle down into becoming. It’s a good start.”
The pressures that come with being a top prospect and a face of a team’s rebuild are difficult, but Jimenez has handled his first major-league season with poise.
Despite injuries and growing pains, Jimenez, whom the Sox acquired through a 2017 trade with the Cubs, has never lost his confidence and trust in himself.
“I don’t try to think about that too much,” he said. “I just try to enjoy what I do and go out and play hard.”
Jimenez still has plenty of room to grow before he reaches his full potential especially in the outfield. In the third inning on Sunday, Jimenez missed a fly ball near the left-field fence.
But Jimenez’s success in the last month of this season is making Renteria have high hopes for 2020.
“I hope he’s hitting 50 homers a year [from now] and I hope he’s actually batting average goes up,” Renteria said.
Woah, fifty homers? That’s a lofty goal considering no Sox player has ever made it to that mark in a single season. The closest is Albert Belle, who hit 49 in 1998.
Does Jimenez think he can do it?
“Maybe next year,” he said.
Jimenez has started to develop into the player the Sox had hoped he would be — and more importantly the power hitter they need to be successful. The Sox will need him to continue to progress this offseason, but his health will be key for the future.
With only six games remaining, Jimenez is looking to continue to grow as a hitter and fielder.
“[I’m going to] finish it strong and keep putting [up] numbers,” Jimenez said.
