On the day he was selected as an All-Star for the first time, the Nationals In a press releaseC.J. Abrams was the top shortstop in the National League, posting a slugging percentage of .506. [and] Slugging (40), OPS (.859), RBIs (1st)[s] (46), triple (5).”
“Advanced metrics,” they added, “ranked second in Players Gained from Replacement (3.5) and OPS+ (146) according to Baseball-Reference.com, and second in wRC+ (138) according to FanGraphs.com.”
The 23-year-old Abrams “ranked in the top 10 among all National League hitters in several categories, including triples (3rd, 5), extra bases (5th, 40), slugging percentage (7th, .506), OPS (7th, .859), doubles (tied for 8th, 21) and runs scored (9th, 56).”
Abrams finished the season before the All-Star Game with a .268/.343/.489 batting average, 21 doubles, six triples, 15 home runs, 30 walks, 80 strikeouts and 15 stolen bases (on 25 attempts).
“He’s one of the young guys we’re trying to build this team around,” manager Davey Martinez said after Abrams was named to the National League roster.
“For him to have half the success he’s had says a lot about where we are as young guys.
“We’re very happy for him and his family. It means a lot to us that he’s able to represent the Nationals.”
One reporter noted that Abrams’ rise to the major leagues has often been tied to the Nationals manager’s decision to move him from shortstop to leadoff in the batting order exactly one year before he was named to his first All-Star game.
How did Martinez know about it, or why did he think Abrams was ready to take on that responsibility?
“I really felt like he could do it,” Martinez said, “and he went out there and tried to get it done. I’m proud of the way he took the responsibility and took that leadoff position and got the little things done.” [have] It helped him get better. I owe it all to him.”
Abrams’ determination and drive to improve have stood out as the club’s manager.
“He wants to help win games, and that’s the most important thing,” Martinez explained. “… He wants to be one of the best, and he works to be the best every day. He’s still young, he’s still learning a lot about himself, and he’s matured a lot. We’ve talked a lot about how his defense needs to get better, and his discipline at the plate needs to get better. I always tell him, ‘You might not realize how good you really are, but if you do these little things, you’re one of the best young players in baseball right now.’ But we’ve got to keep an eye on him, we’ve got to keep an eye on him until he really figures it out.”
Maybe being selected as an All-Star might help. It meant a lot to Abrams. “I was excited,” Abrams said. Quoted from MLB.com.
“I’d like to thank everyone in this clubhouse, my family, friends and fans, and I’m excited to represent the Nationals in Arlington. [TX].”
“Having CJ selected is a great honor for him and his family,” the GM and president of baseball operations said. Mike Rizzo told Sports Junkies last week.“And I want to thank the development guys in our system for really fine-tuning his approach at the plate and the way he hits.”
Rizzo, who acquired Abrams as one of five prospects in the ’22 trade with the Padres for Juan Soto and Josh Bell, said the shortstop has turned out to be exactly what they hoped he would.
“He came in with incredible skill, exactly as advertised,” Rizzo said, “but it’s really a testament to the kind of guy he is, the kind of person he is and the kind of hard worker he is.”
Abrams replaced former Nationals shortstop Trea Turner in the sixth inning and hit a good pitch on the first ball he threw to get the first out of the inning.
With the National League trailing the American League 5-3 after the seventh inning, Abrams batted first in the top of the eighth, facing Rangers right-hander Kirby Yates and striking out with an 0-2 splitter.
This includes:
Kyle Finnegan abruptly cut short his All-Star break when he found out he’d been named to the National League roster as an alternate. Although he didn’t play in the game, he did get to experience his first appearance in the Midsummer Classic. Congratulations, Kyle.
[fights emotions wondering if Finnegan will be a National after the trade deadline].
[ed. note – “If anyone’s actually read this far — we’re taking two days off with the rest of the baseball world, to rest up, kind of, but mostly to finish Georgi Gospodinov’s Time Shelter. It really is good, and we totally understand what’s going on. See you on Friday.”]
