Monday night at Fenway wasn’t just your average summer ballgame—it was history in motion. Wilyer Abreu, a name that might not yet be on every baseball fan’s radar, just punched his ticket into the history books in a way that even longtime Red Sox faithful haven’t seen in decades.
A Bounce, a Slip, and a Sprint Into Red Sox History
Bottom of the fifth, Boston already clawing for momentum. Abreu steps in, smacks a liner dead-center, and bam—the ball ricochets off Fenway’s quirky triangle wall like a pinball, and the Reds’ TJ Friedl couldn’t handle the carom. He slips, scrambles, and by the time he finds his footing, Abreu’s rounding third like a man possessed and sliding safely home. Inside-the-park home run—check. That’s rare enough on its own. The bounce was wild, the effort was relentless, and the moment? Unforgettable.
A Grand Finale for the Grand Slam
Fast-forward to the eighth inning. Bases juiced. Reds are hoping to stop the bleeding. And Abreu unloads—high and deep over that shallow right field fence. Grand slam. Fenway erupts. What had been a tight battle turned into a blowout in a blink. That swing pushed Boston’s lead to eight runs and effectively sealed the game. Just like that, Abreu went from spark plug to showstopper.
A Club So Exclusive, You Need a Time Machine
And now here’s the part that’ll have trivia buffs scribbling notes: this combo—an inside-the-parker and a grand slam, in the same game—hasn’t happened since 1958. That’s Roger Maris territory. Before him? Jim Tabor (1939), Charlie Gehringer (1930), Everett Scott (1923), and Jocko Fields back in 1890. Just six players in Major League history have ever pulled this off. And now, add Wilyer Abreu to that scroll.
He may not have a long résumé just yet, but this performance is — It guarantees he won’t be forgotten anytime soon. He didn’t just help Boston snap a brutal skid—just their second win in nine games—he gave the offense a jolt when it looked half-asleep.
So next time you’re in a baseball trivia showdown, and someone asks, “Who was the Red Sox player who hit both an inside-the-park home run and a grand slam in the same game?”—smile and say, “Wilyer Abreu. Fenway. 2025.”
