CJ Abrams

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = CJ Abrams

| image = C. J. Abrams ready to field at shortstop, July 29, 2023 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Abrams with the Nationals in 2023

| team = Washington Nationals

| number = 5

| position = Shortstop

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|10|3}}

| birth_place = Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 8

| debutyear = 2022

| debutteam = San Diego Padres

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = May 18, 2025

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .252

| stat2label = Hits

| stat2value = 385

| stat3label = Home runs

| stat3value = 48

| stat4label = Runs batted in

| stat4value = 168

| stat5label = Stolen bases

| stat5value = 94

| teams =

San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2022}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2022}}–present)

| awards =

All-Star (2024)

}}

Paul Christopher Abrams Jr. (born October 3, 2000) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the San Diego Padres. Abrams was named an All-Star in 2024.

Amateur career

Abrams attended Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia. In 2018, he played for Team USA in the U-18 Pan-American Championships, making the All-Tournament team and helping the U.S. win the gold medal.{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Matt | title=10 things to know about CJ Abrams | website=MLB.com | date=June 4, 2019 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/10-things-to-know-about-cj-abrams | access-date=December 11, 2024}} As a senior in 2019, he was the Georgia Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year after hitting .431 with three home runs and 27 runs batted in (RBI).{{Cite web |last=Holcomb |first=Todd |date=May 23, 2019 |title=Blessed Trinity shortstop named Gatorade Georgia baseball player of year |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/high-school-sports/blessed-trinity-shortstop-named-gatorade-georgia-baseball-player-year/3FNulEltmVycYLEcj63OuL/ |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English}} He committed to play college baseball at the University of Alabama, but did not attend, opting instead for a professional career.{{Cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/Playerprofile.aspx?ID=446124|title = CJ Abrams Class of 2019 – Player Profile | Perfect Game USA}}

Professional career

=San Diego Padres=

File:CJ Abrams.jpg

Abrams was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2019|title=MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch|website=Major League Baseball|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=June 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615113942/http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=draft|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20190525/do-chicago-white-sox-take-college-slugger-or-prep-phenom|title=Do Chicago White Sox take college slugger or prep phenom?|first=Scot|last=Gregor|date=May 25, 2019|website=Daily Herald}}{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/993601/2019/05/29/a-born-hitter-georgia-prep-star-c-j-abrams-will-be-a-speedy-selection-in-mlb-draft/|title=A born hitter: Georgia high school star C.J. Abrams will be...|first=Andre|last=Fernandez|website=The Athletic}} The San Diego Padres selected Abrams in the first round, with the sixth overall pick.{{cite web| url = https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2019-06-03/padres-draft-prep-shortstop-c-j-abrams-sixth-overall| title = Padres draft CJ Abrams, prep shortstop from Georgia, No. 6 overall – The San Diego Union-Tribune| date = June 3, 2019}} He signed with the Padres on June 8 for $5.2 million,{{Cite web|url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/06/08/padres-agree-to-terms-with-cj-abrams/|title = Padres agree to terms with CJ Abrams|date = June 8, 2019}} and was assigned to the Arizona League Padres,{{cite web |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/top-mlb-prospects-hot-sheet-62419/ |title=Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet (6/24/19) |website=www.baseballamerica.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625001612/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/top-mlb-prospects-hot-sheet-62419/ |archive-date=June 25, 2019}} where he hit safely in his first twenty games. In August, he was promoted to the Fort Wayne TinCaps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/padres-cj-abrams-moves-up-to-midwest-league/|title = Padres' CJ Abrams: Moves up to Midwest League}} He was placed on the injured list four days following the promotion due to a shoulder injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/san-diego-padres-prospect-cj-abrams-placed-on-injured-list/c-309872640|title = Padres' Abrams placed on IL at Class A}} Over 34 games between the two clubs, Abrams batted .393/.436/.647 with three home runs, 22 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Abrams did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|title = 2020 Minor League Season Canceled}}

Abrams was assigned to the Double-A San Antonio Missions to begin the 2021 season. In June 2021, Abrams was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web| url = https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-futures-game-rosters| title = 2021 Futures Game rosters| website = MLB.com}} In a June 30 game against the Corpus Christi Hooks, Abrams collided with second baseman Eguy Rosario at second base attempting to field a ground ball up the middle and had to be helped off of the field. On July 4, Abrams was diagnosed with a fractured left tibia and sprained medial collateral ligament, ending his 2021 season.{{cite web|url=https://mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/padres-prospect-cj-abrams-out-for-the-season.html/|title=Padres' Prospect CJ Abrams Out For The Season|website=mlbtraderumors.com|author=Anthony Franco|date=July 4, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2021}} In 42 games with the Missions, Abrams had hit .296/.363/.420 with two home runs and 23 RBIs.

On April 7, 2022, the Padres selected Abrams' contract, adding him to their Opening Day roster. He made his major league debut on April 8.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cj-abrams-padres-top-prospect-mlb-debut|title=Top prospect Abrams flashes leather in MLB debut|website=MLB.com|date=April 8, 2022|accessdate=April 9, 2022}} On April 14, Abrams hit his first career home run off of Atlanta Braves starter Charlie Morton.{{Cite web|title=Welcome to SD! Abrams homers in first AB|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/c-j-abrams-hits-first-career-homer|access-date=February 2, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

=Washington Nationals=

On August 2, 2022, Abrams, along with James Wood, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, Jarlín Susana and Luke Voit were traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Juan Soto and Josh Bell.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/juan-soto-padres-trade|title=Padres finalize deal with Nats to land Soto, Bell|website=MLB.com}} After the trade, Abrams was assigned to the Nationals' Triple–A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings. He was promoted to the major leagues later that month and made his debut for the Nationals on August 15, 2022.{{Cite web |title=C.J. Abrams makes Nationals debut |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/c-j-abrams-makes-nationals-debut |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=MLB.com |date=August 15, 2022}}

In his first full season with the Nationals in 2023, Abrams established himself as one of the league’s most promising young shortstops, hitting .245 with 18 home runs and 47 stolen bases, while primarily batting leadoff.{{Cite news |title=C.J. Abrams's 2024 Spring Training with Nationals |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02/26/cj-abrams-spring-training-nationals/ |access-date=August 13, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 26, 2024}}

In 2024, Abrams was named to the National League All-Star Team, marking his first All-Star appearance.{{Cite web |title=C.J. Abrams named to National League All-Star Team |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-cj-abrams-named-national-league-all-star |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=MLB.com |date=July 2024}} In 138 games for Washington, he slashed .246/.314/.433 with 20 home runs, 65 RBI, and 31 stolen bases.{{Cite news|title=Nationals demote All-Star CJ Abrams to Triple-A because of 'internal issue,' Davey Martinez says|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/nationals-demote-all-star-cj-abrams-to-triple-a-because-of-internal-issue-davey-martinez-says/|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=CBSSports.com|language=en}} On September 20, 2024, Abrams was optioned to the rookie-level Florida Complex League Nationals after reportedly staying up until 8 a.m. at a casino in Chicago on the same day the Nationals had a 1:20 p.m. game.{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Adam |title=CJ Abrams Demoted by Nationals amid Rumors 2024 MLB All-Star Was at Casino Until 8 AM |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10136239-cj-abrams-demoted-by-nationals-amid-rumors-2024-mlb-all-star-was-at-casino-until-8-am |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}

Personal life

Abrams is named after his father, Paul Christopher Abrams Sr. His father is known as "Chris"; the younger Abrams' nickname is short for "Chris Junior".{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cj-abrams-explains-abbreviated-first-name|title='I'm CJ, little Chris': Let Abrams explain why|last=Camerato|first=Jessica|work=MLB.com|date=August 17, 2022}}