Traded together, Abrams, Wood come full circle with All-Star nods for Nats

WASHINGTON -- CJ Abrams and James Wood arrived in Washington, D.C., in August 2022 after headlining the blockbuster trade that sent sluggers Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres.

Now, Abrams and Wood are heading to the 2026 All-Star Game on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia as Nationals.

Abrams was named a National League All-Star for the second time in his career, but this will be his first time as the starting shortstop for the NL, as voted by the fans.

"It's amazing,” Abrams said. “The fans have been out [to support us] every game, pretty much. We have been out there, kind of together. They bring the electricity and we've been getting the job done for them. Today didn't go as we wanted, but we are going to keep working."

Meanwhile, Wood makes his second All-Star Game appearance in as many seasons as a reserve in the NL outfield.

"I am super grateful for being able to stay healthy, and just having a good group of teammates and coaches around me helping me play at that level,” Wood said. “It's been recognized, so it's pretty cool."

Abrams was a first-round pick of the Padres in the 2019 Draft (6th overall) and Wood was a second-round pick by San Diego in 2021.

"It's always cool,” Wood said. “Last year I had MacKenzie [Gore] with me, this year I got CJ with me. Just going with a teammate is pretty dope."

"It's awesome,” Abrams said. “Me and James go way back to San Diego, and now we are over here doing our thing, so it's going to be fun."

Nationals manager Blake Butera described the moment he told the rest of Abrams and Wood’s teammates the news that they’d be representing Washington at the All-Star Game together.

"Awesome, [I am] fired up for both CJ and Woody,” Butera said. “Both extremely well-deserved honors. CJ starting at shortstop, Woody outfield reserve. All their teammates were really fired up for them."

The Nationals’ offense has posted eye-popping numbers through the first half of the 2026 campaign, with Wood and Abrams leading the charge.

The pair of young stars have been the backbone of the Nationals’ resurgence this season, leading the club to a 46-44 record entering Sunday – the first time the club has been above .500 this late in a season since July 4, 2019.

Wood (3.5 bWAR) and Abrams (3.4 bWAR) rank in the top four in offensive wins above replacement, per Baseball-Reference, behind only the Marlins’ Otto Lopez (4.1 bWAR) and the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong (4.0 bWAR).

Abrams has hit cleanup for the Nationals in 65 of the team’s 90 games this season, hitting .250 (63-for-252) with 13 doubles, two triples, 12 homers and 40 RBIs.

"It's incredible and it speaks volumes of the type of player that he is starting at a premium position like shortstop, of course, representing the National League,” Butera said of Abrams. “First Nationals shortstop to start in the All-Star Game, just really impressive."

Wood celebrated his All-Star Game invite with a mammoth first-pitch home run in the bottom of the first inning that bounced off the first row of the third deck on Saturday. It was only the 11th hit to Sections 234 or 236 by a Nationals player since Nationals Park opened in 2008.

"The first time it was like a whirlwind,” Wood said of his All-Star selection. “I think I'll be able to slow it down a little bit more this time and take it in."

Wood also participated in last season’s Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta, but was eliminated in the first round. Will he participate again this time?

"We'll see,” Wood said. “We'll see."

CJ Abrams, SS
Previous All-Star appearances: 1 (2024)
Something to know: Abrams leads all NL shortstops in home runs (18), RBIs (60), extra-base hits (36) and slugging percentage (.502).

James Wood, OF
Previous All-Star appearances: 1 (2025)
Something to know: Wood ranks first among NL outfielders in home runs (23), runs scored (77), extra-base hits (46) and walks (68).