Abrams has 102 RBIs and 33 home runs and 33 stolen bases on the season. He became the 12th player in Nationals team history (2005-present) to record triple-digit RBIs, and the first since Anthony Rendon (126) and Juan Soto (110) in the Nationals’ World Series season.
“What he's done this year -- the amount of stolen bases he has, the home runs, the doubles, the ribbies -- he's a superstar in the making,” said manager Blake Butera. “It’s been a lot of fun to watch him do his thing and just sit in the dugout and know that he's on our team. I couldn't be more impressed with what CJ has done. [I’m] extremely proud of him.”
Abrams mashed two home runs to drive in three runs on the night. He sent a fastball from Drew Anderson a Statcast-projected 418 feet to right-center field in the second inning. Abrams took Anderson yard again in the seventh, this time with a runner on base. His go-ahead two-run homer traveled 404 feet to right field.
“Guys in front of me are getting on base, making things happen,” said Abrams. “Scoring runs for the team helps win ballgames, so just keep going.”
The only other player to hit at least 30 home runs and drive in 100-plus runs this season is Cubs slugger Pete Crow-Armstrong. Soto also achieved that feat last year.
After earning his second All-Star selection and being named the NL starting shortstop, Abrams hit a slump in August, batting .173 with nine RBIs that month. Abrams went homerless from Aug. 12-Sept. 6.
“Pay attention to the task at hand,” Abrams said. “Bad days may happen, but don’t let them affect me tomorrow.”
Abrams has found his stride toward the end of the season. He is hitting .297 in his last nine games with three home runs and seven RBIs.
“I think it’s tough when you're sitting at 29 home runs for a while, and you’re sitting at 95 or 96 RBIs for a while,” Butera said. “You see that stuff every time you play up on the scoreboard. It's crazy to think that you're not seeing that and thinking about that, so I'm sure that played a part in it. I know when he hit the 30th home run, it felt like a big weight off his shoulders. Then obviously tonight too, getting over 100 RBIs.”
Abrams leads NL shortstops in home runs, RBIs and extra-base hits. He is also the second player in team history -- and first since Alfonso Soriano in 2006 -- to post a 30 homer-30 stolen-base season.
“It’s a lot to look forward to, it’s a lot to be excited about,” said Butera. “And I think it sets the tone for the rest of this group in terms of what we’re capable of achieving.”