Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams was selected for his second MLB All-Star Game this year. In the nine games since the break, he has continued to show why. Abrams is swinging one of, if not the hottest bat in all of baseball right now. The former first-round pick is having a breakout season in year five and is suddenly looking like an MVP candidate.
Abrams had his fifth multi-hit game in a row on Sunday afternoon, going 3-5 with two home runs and three RBIs (runs batted in). That now makes Abrams 19-39, with seven home runs and 15 RBIs over the last nine games. The batting average has also jumped over 20 points over this span, from .275 to .297. The Nationals’ young slugger leads the MLB in RBIs, and he is doing so in spectacular fashion.
As Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan mentioned, Abrams has more homers by himself in the second half than seven other teams have in total. The baseball is clearly looking like a beach ball to the 25-year-old lately, as Abrams continues putting it all together.
If Abrams continues at his current pace, he will finish the year with 41 big flies and 127 RBIs. That would nearly double his previous career highs from 2024 of 24 and 65, respectively. When asked about recent performances, Abrams credited the work he put in (batting-cage and pitching-machine reps), but there is more to the story. Abrams has made subtle adjustments to his approach and changed to a larger bat this season.
Former major leaguer and current MLB Network analyst Mike DeRosa gave a full breakdown earlier this season. DeRosa mentioned that Abrams is using a 34.5-inch, 33-ounce bat, which was used by former power hitters Chipper Jones and Alfonso Soriano. Abrams has also widened his hips and lowered the leg kick. DeRosa had a simple quote regarding that change in leg movement.
Everything is about getting your swing off at pitcher release. How do I be in a position to fire when the guy (pitcher) is right here (release point)?
Abrams switched to a heavier bat, made the small changes, and is now one of the best young hitters in baseball.
With the MLB trade deadline being next week, serious contenders will be looking to add an extra bat to their lineups. Abrams is at the top of the list for many squads, and while the Nationals are not openly shopping him, they are at least willing to listen to offers. The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers are currently the top candidates for Abrams’ services.
All three of those teams are battling for playoff position on different levels. The Brew Crew is currently a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first seed in the National League. In the American League, the Yankees are 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first, and the Red Sox are attempting to hold on to a Wildcard spot. Abrams would surely help all those pursuing him to achieve their playoff goals.
The question becomes: does Washington feel like it is one of those teams? The Nationals are now a game behind the Arizona Diamonds (whom they just won two out of three against) for the final NL Wildcard spot. Washington would surely get a haul for Abrams, but parting ways with this young superstar could come back to haunt them.
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As is the case with most young players, Abrams has not had smooth sailing completely in his five-year MLB career. Back in September of 2024, the Nationals demoted Abrams to the minor leagues for the final week of the season after pulling an all-nighter at a Chicago casino. Abrams left the casino around 8:00 AM local time, only five hours before the 1:00 PM game against the Chicago Cubs. After a 0-3 performance, Abrams was sent to Triple-A.
The young slugger admitted that it took some time to get over the incident, but ultimately used it as a learning experience. It seems to have been just a young player mistake by the then-23-year-old, as he now looks more focused than ever.
Washington will now have until next Monday at 6:00 PM to decide on Abrams. While I understand the organization can get plenty for him, it is still a really tough sell. This is arguably the hottest player in baseball right now, and the Nationals are still well in the playoff race. Additionally, the roster is already loaded with young talent, including James Wood, Daylen Lile, Nasim Nunez (current stolen bases leader), and Luis Garcia Jr.
Washington has a good chance of making the postseason and finishing with a winning record for the first time since their 2019 World Series year. The organization should probably give this squad at least another year to see how much they can grow together. Abrams is turning into a superstar, and he could be the centerpiece once this team is ready to compete for the pennant again.
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