The Nationals announced that shortstop CJ Abrams has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right hip flexor strain. Infielder Nasim Nunez was called up from Triple-A to take Abrams’ spot on the active roster.
Abrams’ injury has been bothering him for the better part of a week, as he didn’t play on Monday or Tuesday before returning to action on Wednesday. The Nationals didn’t play on Thursday, but that extra day of rest didn’t help Abrams, as he made an early exit during the fourth inning of Friday’s game with the Marlins. Manager Davey Martinez told reporters (including MLB.com’s Santos Perez) that Abrams had hip discomfort while trying to steal a base in the top of the third, and then again when fielding a grounder in the bottom half of the inning.
Given the lingering nature of the injury, it isn’t surprising that the Nats decided to shut Abrams down entirely for at least 10 days to let him fully shake the hip issue. Paul DeJong will likely shift over from third base to take over most of the starting duties at shortstop, with Amed Rosario and Jose Tena probably handling things at third. Nunez also has a lot of shortstop experience in the minor leagues, and the former Rule 5 Draft pick figures to get some playing time in his second MLB season.
Not that there’s ever a great time to visit the IL, but the placement cuts short Abrams’ heavy-hitting start to the 2025 campaign. Abrams has already hit four homers and delivered a .585 slugging percentage in his first 46 trips to the plate, even if his batting average (.244) and OBP (.289) are far more modest.
Abrams also had a big first half in 2024, earning the shortstop a spot on the NL All-Star team. Just when it looked like Abrams was having a proper breakout year, however, his production tailed off in the second half, and he was optioned to Triple-A for the last week of the season as a disciplinary response to an off-the-field issue. Washington president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo made a point of confirming his team’s commitment and belief in Abrams during the Nats’ end-of-season press conference, and the matter might end up being a footnote if Abrams continues as a cornerstone piece for a Nationals team that is emerging from the end of a rebuild.
Championship plans aborted.
Any relation to J.J.?
Maybe from a different mother but I doubt it.
Without Abrams, Washington’s lineup loses its spark and their internal options highlight how far they are from real depth—forget flipping DeJong, the Nats are just trying to stay afloat.
You could ve read entire article before generating an AI tainted comment. Rosario and Tena both can play 3B if DeJong shifts to SS. They also likely want to see if Nunez can field at MLB level. The kid is really fast and if he can prove tolerable with his glove he’s likely worth a roster spot.
Not sure Nats are trying to “stay afloat” either. They do long to be making huge strides towards contending. They ve also shown a willingness to spend, but they ve done so very cautiously and methodically looking to build around their young talent.
I’d say they re very aware of current climate in their division. They likely know a lot would have to go right just to contend foe a Wild Card. The moves they make are probably still with an attempt at winning, but also with an eye on where they go in future and what young players will be around.
@Tigers3232
Tigers3232’s rose-colored view ignores the Nationals’ razor-thin margin for error. My point—Abrams’ absence kills their spark and exposes shallow depth—isn’t AI fluff; it’s math. DeJong at shortstop downgrades third base (Rosario/Tena’s -5 OAA combined vs. DeJong’s +4). Nunez’s glove is MLB-caliber (+5 OAA), but his .262 SLG is a black hole. The lineup’s 4.8 runs with Abrams vs. 3.3 without isn’t replaceable by a $1M DeJong or a Rule 5 retread. The Nationals’ 6-8 record and 25th-ranked payroll scream “stay afloat,” not “contend.” In an NL East where 90 wins is table stakes, banking on Tena’s bat or Nunez’s speed isn’t methodical—it’s desperation. Their youth is a foundation, but without Abrams, they’re a 75-win team scrambling to avoid the basement, exactly as I said.
The kid stole 70 bases in 123 games 2022. In 2023 he stole 50 across 125 games when he got on base far less. He missed a huge chunk of 2024 so no #s that carry any weight for a valid comparison.
To call his base stealing “methodical” is just flat out false.
As good as he has been, he is not a leadoff hitter. Leadoff hitters are supposed to get on a lot more than 30% of the time. Abrams isn’t even there yet. I don’t think his homers and stolen bases make up for his lack of on base ability. Also wondering how long it will be before house comes up.If nunez can get on base and garcia continues to struggle, does abrams move to second?
He’s only plated 35 games in the field at MLB level and had 5 errors across those games. With that small of sample size any reference to analytics is not very helpful and is in no way a large enough sample size to paint an accurate pitcher.
The Nats won 71 games last year. Any mention of 90 wins is quite laughable at this point, especially in their division with Mets, Phils, and Braves.
You have got to be kidding of you think Nunez speed is “desperation” the kid is flat out fast. To use the word methodical is laughable….