All-Star Abrams' bilingual skills enhance Nats' team culture

WASHINGTON – If the Nationals were a basketball team, CJ Abrams would be their point guard. With the ability to converse with his teammates in not one, but two languages, the All-Star shortstop is like an extra coach on the field for manager Blake Butera.

“Let’s say one of our other coaches might be out there directing a drill who doesn't speak Spanish, and you can see that one of our players maybe didn't understand what was said; CJ right away makes sure that everyone's on the same page,” Butera said.

“Especially in games, too, when we're trying to get them a sign from the dugout – maybe playing the infield in or what we're doing first and third play – for CJ to kind of run point out there is awesome.”

Abrams, 25, learned Spanish in high school. After he was drafted by the Padres in 2019, he was roommates in the instructional league with Reginald Preciado from Panama. Immersing himself in daily conversations took his second language to another level.

“Being able to speak freely with teammates and everybody is probably the fastest way to learn,” Abrams said.

When the Nationals acquired Abrams from the Padres in the 2022 Juan Soto blockbuster, he and second baseman Luis García Jr. became an instant middle-infield tandem. Both players were still honing their second languages at the time, and they quickly bonded over the bilingual dialogue.

“The first day, I didn’t know he spoke Spanish, and I spoke English to him. He told me, ‘I speak Spanish.’ I said, ‘OK, I don’t want to speak English with you,’” García said with a laugh. “He had good Spanish in 2022, but now it’s really, really good. He speaks a lot with me in Spanish. I talk to him when I want to speak more English, and he helps me to speak more.”

When first baseman/designated hitter Andrés Chaparro was traded to the Nationals in 2024 from the D-backs, he turned to his close friend Juan Yepez early on for help communicating. But after Yepez was no longer on the team, Abrams stepped into the role.

“It really helps us that he speaks Spanish because it makes it much easier for us to connect with him, especially since we might not speak perfect English,” Chaparro said in Spanish. “But he understands a lot of Spanish, and it is easier to communicate with him. I think it is important for him to know it.”

Infielder Jorbit Vivas joined the Nats in a trade with the Yankees in March. He did not expect to hear the starting shortstop speaking in Spanish – and doing so fluently.

“It helps to make the plays much better,” Vivas said in Spanish. “I think it’s great because there are several Latinos here and he communicates with us, and that’s very important. He knows how to do that and to be a leader.”

Abrams has helped first-year manager Butera establish a bond between the players this season. Four of the Nationals' six infielders speak Spanish as their first language.

“When people outside the organization ask about CJ and when I tell them that he speaks Spanish, they're always kind of caught off guard,” Butera said. “But it goes such a long way because, you see, with every team, it's hard not to have a bit of a gap with the Latin group and the American group, of course, because of the language barrier. …

“That's why I think our clubhouse is so special, because we have so many people like CJ, like some of our coaches, like Luis, Keibert [Ruiz], Orlando Ribalta. There are so many people that speak really, really good English and are able to help bridge that gap and make sure that there are no cultural gaps within our clubhouse walls.”

Abrams strikes up conversations with opponents, too. He recalled Rays' Junior Caminero being surprised when he chatted with him in Spanish on the bases recently.

When Abrams walks into the clubhouse for his second All-Star appearance next week, he will be able to communicate with players from different backgrounds. Like baseball, it is a skill he values and works on every day.

“[English] is not their first language,” Abrams said. “So if you can know their first language, it'll be easier for them to express themselves to you. They might know English, but they don't feel comfortable speaking it. It’s like Spanish; it’s the same thing, if you don’t feel comfortable speaking Spanish. So just kind of put yourself in their shoes.”