For 1st time since 2022, SS Abrams to play 2B in coming days for Nats

NEW YORK – The Nationals are moving two-time All-Star CJ Abrams from shortstop to second base. Manager Blake Butera made the announcement on Friday prior to the Nationals’ 124th game of the season.

Nasim Nuñez will shift from second base to shortstop.

“Obviously, CJ spent the majority of his career at shortstop and all of his time for the Nationals there,” Butera said before the Nationals' 4-1 loss. “So I understand this is not an easy decision, not an easy conversation, of course. But ultimately, we felt like this was the best thing for the team going forward.”

Abrams was still at shortstop in the starting lineup on Friday against the Mets. Butera expects Abrams to make his second-base debut with the Nationals in the coming days, rather than coming weeks.

“Not too many thoughts,” Abrams said of the change. “I stay present, for real. I’m playing shortstop today, so I’m ready to go get a ‘W.’”

When asked if he sees himself as a shortstop in the long-term, Abrams replied, “I do.” He added, “That’s just where I’ve been playing my whole life, and I believe I can be a great shortstop.”

Abrams, 25, has made 113 starts at shortstop this season with the Nationals. He has a -13 run value and a league-low -17 Outs Above Average. His 19 errors are most among all players.

Over his five-year career, Abrams has a .963 fielding percentage in 608 starts at shortstop. Since 2023, his first full season in Washington, he has recorded a league-low -55 OAA. (Amed Rosario is next behind Abrams at -38).

“To be able to range – especially to his right – and make those throws across his body on the run, that can be tough,” Butera said. “But I think he’s going to be able to do a really good job of that at second base because it’s a little bit shorter of a throw, and he does well securing the baseball. I think also the pivot at second base when he’s turning double plays is going to be really good as well because he’s actually gotten some reps doing that with the shifts.”

Abrams has not played second base since he appeared in 13 games (six starts) with the Padres as a rookie in 2022.

“Just go over there and be athletic,” said Abrams. “There’s a shorter throw, it’s pretty much the only difference. You have different pivots you have to do at second base. But other than that, it’s still the infield.”

The Nationals are making this change in mid-August instead of next season, so there is time to get in-game reps and feedback to take into the offseason. To prepare, the staff put together a progression plan for learning a new position.

“Ultimately, this is a decision that [president of baseball operations] Paul [Toboni], [general manager] Ani [Kilambi] and myself decided to make,” Butera said. “And CJ was on board with it, which makes it easier to kind of lay it all out for him.”

Abrams’ defensive metrics are juxtaposed with his top-tier performance at the plate. Entering Friday, Abrams led the Major Leagues in RBIs (91), ranked third in the NL in total bases (244), and ranked fifth in the NL in slugging percentage (.541), OPS (.898), wOBA (.383), wRC+ (143), home runs (29) and extra-base hits (55). Abrams was named the starting shortstop for the National League in the All-Star Game.

“We don’t want to lose an ounce of that offense because what he’s doing – no matter where he’s playing – that’s real stuff,” said Butera. “That’s one of the best players in the league, offensively.”

Nuñez earned the role of starting second baseman in Spring Training when Luis García Jr. moved to first base. Prior to this season, Nuñez had seen most of his Major League playing time at shortstop, where he has a .966 fielding percentage in 447 1/3 innings.

“I think if CJ plays a good second base and Nas plays a great shortstop, I think we're a better team,” said Butera.

Looking years ahead

The Nationals have more to think about than the remaining six weeks of the regular season. Their Minor League system is stacked with middle infield depth, particularly at shortstop.

Seaver King, the Nationals’ No. 4 prospect and MLB No. 71, is projected by MLB Pipeline to reach the Majors next season. He has played primarily shortstop this season in Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester.

2025 No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits, 18, is considered the organization’s shortstop of the future with an MLB ETA of 2028. He is ranked as the Nats' top prospect and MLB No. 4. Willits advanced from Single-A Fredericksburg to High-A Wilmington in his first full season of pro ball.

Going beyond King and Willits, No. 7 prospect Ronny Cruz has quickly ascended in the Nats system. The 19-year-old infielder has rotated between shortstop, second base and third base this season in High-A. No. 5 prospect Devin Fitz-Gerald, 20, has played most of his time between second base and shortstop since advancing to Double-A in June. At Single-A Fredericksburg, No. 15 prospect Coy James, 19, has logged over 400 innings at shortstop.

“We’re thinking about all those things, we are,” said Butera. “But ultimately right now, what we’re trying to do is do what’s best for this team and this organization to win as many games as possible the rest of this year, and also set ourselves up for next year. But we’re taking all those things into account when we’re making decisions like this.”