Nationals' CJ Abrams uneasy about move to second base
CJ Abrams expressed disappointment over a position change to second base, but said his focus remains on helping the Washington Nationals win.
Two-time All-Star CJ Abrams is being shifted from shortstop to second base by the Washington Nationals, a move that his agent said leaves the player "not thrilled." Abrams' representative, Mike Sanders of Roc Nation Sports, told The Athletic that Abrams sees himself as a shortstop both now and in the future and that the team has not yet fully evaluated his potential at second base.
Abrams, who has spent his five seasons with Washington at shortstop, will trade positions with second baseman Nasim Nunez, according to manager Blake Butler, who said the change is "the best thing for our team going forward." The infielder is having a strong offensive season with 28 home runs, 91 RBIs, a .278 batting average and an .884 OPS, though he leads the majors with 19 errors and posted a .959 fielding percentage, his lowest since his rookie year.
Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni acknowledged Abrams' frustration, stating, "> If I'm CJ, of course I'm upset. CJ has been a shortstop for his whole life, and it's a huge part of his baseball identity."
Toboni added that the organization considers personal impacts when making roster decisions and aims to communicate clearly with the player and his agent. Abrams remains under contract through 2028, and Sanders said, "> CJ's enjoyed his time in D.C. and, as long as he's with the Nationals, his focus is going to be on being the very best player he can be and winning as many games with the Nationals as he can."