NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams is moving to second base for the Washington Nationals, vacating the only position he’s played during his five seasons with the club.
Manager Blake Butera said Friday that Abrams has begun working out at second. He said the transition will be more 鈥渕ultiday than multiweek鈥� and that Abrams will swap spots with second baseman Nasim Nu帽ez.
鈥淛ust thought this was the best thing for our team going forward,鈥� Butera said. 鈥淲e think with those two up the middle and Nasim playing more shortstop gives us the best chance.鈥�
Butera said Abrams was amenable to the move while noting that shortstops take pride in playing the position 鈥� something Abrams also acknowledged.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 just where I鈥檝e been playing my whole life,鈥� said Abrams, who led off and played shortstop Friday night against the New York Mets. 鈥淚 believe I can be a great shortstop.鈥�
Abrams, an NL All-Star starter, is having a career year offensively, with 28 homers, a major league-best 91 RBIs, a .284 average and an .898 OPS.
Abrams also leads NL shortstops with 19 errors, just three shy of his career high from 2023 and 2025. His .958 fielding percentage would also be a career worst.
鈥淗e said that a few times 鈥� like, look, the competitor in me wants to say I can do this at shortstop but also understand we have to do what鈥檚 best for the team and the organization going forward,鈥� Butera said.
Nu帽ez has nine errors and a .965 fielding percentage at second base. He leads the majors in range factor at the position.
The Nationals also used first-round picks on shortstops Seaver King and Eli Willits in 2024 and 2025. Willits, selected first overall, is Washington鈥檚 no. 1 prospect, per MLB.com, while King ranks fourth.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thinking about all those things,鈥� Butera said. 鈥淏ut ultimately, right now, what we鈥檙e trying to do is do what鈥檚 best for this team and this organization to win as many games as possible the rest of the year and also set ourselves up for next year.鈥�
Abrams hasn鈥檛 played second base since his rookie season in 2022, when he made 13 appearances at the position for the San Diego Padres.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not too big of a change,鈥� he said.
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