There was a surprising decision made by the Washington Nationals as they opted to send the young and promising shortstop, CJ Abrams, down to the minor leagues with only seven games left in the current season. This choice was made following an incident where Abrams was discovered staying up all night at a casino in Chicago, just a day before the team’s match against the Cubs in a day game.
Reports suggest that Abrams was present at the casino until 8 a.m., despite the game’s first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
The decision to demote an all-star player so late in the season is quite uncommon. Many individuals have raised questions about the Nationals’ choice regarding Abrams.
When questioned about this matter on Saturday, Nationals manager Dave Martinez chose not to delve too deeply. He stated, “I just want to clarify that this wasn’t based on performance,” adding that, “It’s an internal affair. I won’t disclose further details.”
It was later disclosed that Abrams was discovered at the Bally’s Casino at 8 am.
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As he completes his second full season with the Nationals, Abrams is showcasing the best performance of his career. He currently holds a slash line of .246/.314/.433 with 133 hits, 79 runs, 65 RBIs, and 20 home runs.
With Abrams nearing his 24th birthday in about two weeks, this blunder may simply be attributed to the need for further maturity and understanding of prioritizing the team’s interests over personal pursuits.
CJ Abrams Was A Kep Piece In The Juan Soto Trade
Significant expectations are placed on Abrams to evolve into a superstar during his tenure with the Nationals. He was a crucial acquisition for the team following the departure of the beloved All-Star, Juan Soto.
Since joining Washington in mid-2022, his offensive output has shown improvement each year. Nonetheless, Abrams’s defensive skills have hindered his progress, evident from the 17 errors committed in 2024 and 22 errors in 2023.
This is a worrying trend, especially considering that shortstops are typically recognized as some of the best defensive players on the field.
Image Source: CJ Abrams @ Instagram