Accolades are validation for improving Abrams

CHICAGO – Though he had his moments in the first half of the season, CJ Abrams wasn’t fully satisfied with his performance at the plate or in the field. He knows what success feels like, and this wasn’t meeting that standard.

So, the Nationals’ young shortstop set about to make strides, especially in his approach at the plate. And slowly but surely, he began seeing positive results.

Those positive results weren’t lost on manager Davey Martinez, who had been waiting all year for the right moment to bump Abrams up to the leadoff spot in his lineup. Three days before the All-Star break, Martinez decided the time was right.

Abrams has since done his part to validate that decision. And on Monday, he received outside validation for his efforts, winning the first National League Player of the Week award of his young career.

“It feels good to be able to see what hard work can do,” Abrams said. “The last few weeks I’ve been putting a lot of work in with (hitting coach Darnell Coles). It just feels good to be able to go out there and do my thing.”

Abrams won the award based only on three days’ performance, the baseball work week shortened due to the All-Star break. But really this is recognition for the job he’s done over a longer stretch of time now.

In seven games since moving up to the top of the Nats lineup, Abrams is batting .448 (13-for-29) with one double, one triple, one homer, a .484 on-base percentage, nine runs scored and six bases stolen.

For the first time since the Nationals acquired him last summer in the much-ballyhooed Juan Soto trade, Abrams looks like the top-10 draft pick he was four years ago with the Padres. This is a guy, lest we forget, who produced a .310/.360/.480 slash line in 38 games at Triple-A last year before his promotion.

Does this past week’s performance feel more like the performances he put together as a minor leaguer?

“Yeah, it feels a little more comfortable,” he said. “Being at the top of the lineup, being able to get more ABs and see more pitches, for sure.”

The leadoff spot has its advantages and disadvantages. More plate appearances mean more opportunities, and Abrams has made the most of those. But it also can come with some added pressure, a player believing he needs to change his approach and focus solely on working the count and getting on base as the table-setter for the rest of the lineup.

Take the wrong mindset into it, and you can flame out pretty quickly. But handle it the right way, and you can establish yourself as more than just a guy who gets on base and is a threat to steal.

“Part of the leadoff spot – and I talk to him about this – is the word ‘leader,’” Martinez said. “You become that guy to get on base for eight other guys in the lineup. He’s taken it to heart, and he’s doing really well right now.”

How good is life these days for Abrams? He led off Monday night’s game by getting hit by a 1-2 pitch from Cubs starter Drew Smyly. Then, despite getting picked off by Smyly, he still managed to slide in safely at second base ahead of the throw by first baseman Trey Mancini, technically his 14th consecutive successful steal attempt since May 4.

Abrams’ overall stats – a .254/.301/.418 slash line – still don’t dazzle you on paper. But that slugging percentage actually ranks 11th among all major league shortstops, and he’s on pace for 29 doubles, seven triples, 14 home runs and 29 stolen bases. Who wouldn’t take that from a 22-year-old shortstop?

“I mean, it’s the big leagues. It’s not easy to get here,” Abrams said. “Once you get here, it’s hard to stay here. To be able to do something like this is amazing, and it shows you that work can pay off.”