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Nationals Announce CJ Abrams News After Unexpected Removal From Lineup originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Shortstop CJ Abrams is in his fourth major-league season with the Washington Nationals after making his debut in 2022.
Abrams was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft and played 44 games for the franchise before being dealt to the Nationals. That blockbuster trade saw Washington send superstar Juan Soto and Josh Bell to San Diego in exchange for a prospect package headlined by CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore and James Wood—three players who have all emerged as key contributors for the 2025 Nationals.
Selected to his first All-Star Game last season, Abrams displayed an electrifying combination of power and speed, smashing 20 home runs and stealing 31 bases over 138 games.
Before Sunday’s series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, Abrams was scratched from the lineup and replaced by veteran infielder Paul DeJong.
During the game, the team announced that Abrams was removed due to minor soreness in his right shoulder.
Abrams has been a model of consistency this year, producing at the top of Washington’s order in the leadoff spot. Through 82 games he’s totaled 12 home runs and 20 stolen bases, while batting .287 and posting an .836 OPS.
Yet his individual success hasn’t translated to wins: the Nationals have once again fallen out of playoff contention with the All-Star break approaching. They enter Sunday at 38–57, the worst record in the National League East and 14.0 games back of a wild-card berth.
If Abrams’s shoulder continues to flare up, it may be in the organization’s best interest to optimize his recovery now. The 24-year-old shortstop figures to be an important part of Washington’s long-term success.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
