08/14/26 06:31:00
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08/14 18:30 CDT Nationals to move All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to second base
Nationals to move All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to second base
By JERRY BEACH
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) --- All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams is moving to second base for the
Washington Nationals, vacating the only position he's played during his five
seasons with the club.
Manager Blake Butera said Friday that Abrams has begun working out at second.
He said the transition will be more "multiday than multiweek" and that Abrams
will swap spots with second baseman Nasim Nuez.
"Just thought this was the best thing for our team going forward," Butera said.
"We think with those two up the middle and Nasim playing more shortstop gives
us the best chance."
Butera said Abrams was amenable to the move while noting that shortstops take
pride in playing the position --- something Abrams also acknowledged.
"That's just where I've been playing my whole life," said Abrams, who led off
and played shortstop Friday night against the New York Mets. "I believe I can
be a great shortstop."
Abrams, an NL All-Star starter, is having a career year offensively, with 28
homers, a major league-best 91 RBIs, a .284 average and an .898 OPS.
Abrams also leads NL shortstops with 19 errors, just three shy of his career
high from 2023 and 2025. His .958 fielding percentage would also be a career
worst.
"He said that a few times --- like, look, the competitor in me wants to say I
can do this at shortstop but also understand we have to do what's best for the
team and the organization going forward," Butera said.
Nuez has nine errors and a .965 fielding percentage at second base. He leads
the majors in range factor at the position.
The Nationals also used first-round picks on shortstops Seaver King and Eli
Willits in 2024 and 2025. Willits, selected first overall, is Washington's no.
1 prospect, per MLB.com, while King ranks fourth.
"We're thinking about all those things," Butera said. "But ultimately, right
now, what we're trying to do is do what's best for this team and this
organization to win as many games as possible the rest of the year and also set
ourselves up for next year."
Abrams hasn't played second base since his rookie season in 2022, when he made
13 appearances at the position for the San Diego Padres.
"It's not too big of a change," he said.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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