Nationals End C.J. Abrams Controversy, Announce Position Switch

On August 14, the Washington Nationals made a decision to reposition C.J. Abrams from shortstop to second base. Abrams, a leading hitter on the team this season, is among the worst defensive shortstops in Major League Baseball. According to Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric, Abrams has a -17 rating, outperforming only five other shortstops.

His Defensive Runs Saved number (-5) is better than only five other shortstops. Manager Blake Butera announced that Abrams would transition to second base, with Nasim Nuñez taking over as the new shortstop. Nuñez, a 25-year-old who had a below-average batting average in his debut full season, makes up for it with his excellent defensive skills at second base.

He has a plus-9 OAA and plus-13 DRS, better than only a few players at that position. The move significantly impacts Abrams, who was one of the top acquisitions in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres in 2022. Abrams has been an All-Star in two of the last three seasons, and his batting average is on pace for a career year.

Despite his poor fielding, Abrams has 91 RBIs through August 13, ranking first in MLB. The move represents a more significant change for Nuñez, who will be auditioning for a longer-term role at shortstop as the Nationals attempt to emerge from their decade-long rebuild. However, Nuñez faces competition from Seaver King and Eli Willits, who are the top prospects in the organization and play shortstop.