Abrams still preparing to shift from shortstop to second base

The Nationals are still working toward CJ Abrams shifting from shortstop to second base. The earliest they expect Abrams to debut at the new position is Wednesday, manager Blake Butera said on Tuesday.

“I’m not ruling that out, but it depends how the work goes today,” Butera said before the Nationals’ series opener against the Rangers.

The Nationals had Abrams as the designated hitter Tuesday so he could focus on work at second base, rather than adding it to game work at shortstop. They plan to have a conversation with Abrams and take his feedback into account when assessing his readiness.

“We’ll see what that looks like and also talk with him because he has a say in this,” said Butera. “If he’s not ready to play second base on his account, then I’m not going to put him over there. When he gives me the thumbs up, when our coaches give me the thumbs up, when both those things are in place, that’s when we’ll do it.”

Abrams, a two-time All-Star, has been the Nationals starting shortstop since he was acquired from the Padres in the 2022 Juan Soto trade. Although he is an offensive leader both on the Nationals and around the league, his defensive metrics at shortstop have ranked among the lowest at the position.

“I think, first, CJ was not thrilled about the decision to move him off shortstop at this time,” Abrams’ agent, Mike Sanders of Roc Nation Sports, said to The Athletic. “But his priority is to win games for the Nationals and to be a team-first player, so that is what he’s going to do.”

While Abrams said Friday that he views himself as a shortstop long term, he is taking the new defensive assignment day by day.

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

Nasim Nuñez, meanwhile, started at shortstop Tuesday after starting 95 games at second base this season. Nuñez came up in the Marlins organization as a shortstop.

“I think [Nuñez] is excited, but he also understands what CJ is going through,” Butera said. “That’s a good friend of his, so he’s told me he’s willing to help him and offer any tidbits on second base as much as he can and as much as CJ wants to hear it. I know Nas is excited to play some shortstop or play some more shortstop. At the end of the day, both of those guys just want to do what’s best for the team.”