The Washington Nationals have sent their All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to the minor league in a move that caught the baseball world by surprise.
The team confirmed the news on Saturday, saying Abrams was optioned to their Triple-A affiliate, Rochester Red Wings. The move brings Abrams’ 2024 season, his third in the majors, to an end as the Red Wings finish their campaign on Monday.
The Nationals called up infielder Trey Lipscomb to take Abrams’ spot on the roster.
When asked about the decision to option Abrams to minor league, Nationals manager Davey Martinez said it wasn’t a result of Abrams’ performances, which dipped in the second half of the season.
“It’s an internal issue. I’m not going to give specifics,” Martinez told reporters on Saturday.
Martinez added that he still believes Abrams has a bright future with the franchise.
“I’m going to support CJ. He’s a big part of our Nats family, and he will be, but at this point for me, it’s the right thing to do,” he shared.
While Martinez didn’t want to offer details, multiple reports indicate that Abrams being sent to the minors was a result of him being out all night before Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
CJ Abrams had a stellar first part of the 2024 season, batting 268 with 15 homers, 48 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. This resulted in the first All-Star nod of his career and made him the only Nationals player at this year’s All-Star game.
However, Abrams has experienced a slump in form since then, as he saw his batting average drop to .203 while having five home runs and 17 RBIs.
