His glove hasn’t kept up with his bat, and Washington may soon face a tough decision about how to get the most out of their rising star.
Entering his fourth year in the big leagues, CJ Abrams is turning into a star before our eyes. After making his first All-Star appearance last season, he has come back even better. He is on pace for another great offensive season, posting career highs across the board. The bat has always been his trademark and never a concern. The big concern with his game is the level of defense he has played throughout his time in the majors.
In 2025, his defensive woes have been put on full display, creating questions about his long-term capability at shortstop. With shortstop being a premier defensive position, Abrams’ value could rise with a position change.
Offensively, Abrams has played the best baseball of his career. His expected stats are stellar, career highs across the board, and it is on pace for another All-Star level season. His great bat along with his stellar speed will always allow Abrams to be put on the field, regardless of his defensive liabilities.
Why should the Washington Nationals consider a position change for CJ Abrams? Let’s dive in.
**Stats are coming from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant**
FIELDING RUN VALUE (FRV)
Definition: Metric for capturing a player’s measurable defensive performance by converting all of Statcast’s defensive metrics from different scales on the same run-based scale, which can then be read as a player being worth X runs above or Y runs below average.
Fielding run value is the easiest and most simple way to determine the true value of a player’s defense. Abram’s value sits at -5 and is currently one of two everyday shortstops in the bottom twenty-five (J.P Crawford being the other).
Shortstop is one of the most defensively demanding positions, and having an elite defender there is more valuable than relying on a bat-first player with subpar defense.
Shortstops such as Bobby Witt Jr. Jeremy Pena, Masyn Winn, and Mookie Betts all provide strong defensive value at shortstop, posting above-average Fielding Run Value, and are held to very high value due to their elite defense. Abrams’ offense in 2025 is on par, if not better, than these shortstops this season but the defensive value is not there.
RANGE
Out Above Average (OAA)
Speed is an incredibly important aspect of shortstops. Typically, the more speed you have, the more ground you can cover. A great example is Bobby Witt Jr. His speed is a huge reason why he can cover as much ground as possible, along with his incredible reflection. Abrams has stellar speed, but his range is not a strong suit in his game. He is in the 2nd percentile in OAA with -7, ranking him at the bottom compared to other shortstops.
In 2024, Abrams finished the season with -18 OAA, which was the worst in all of baseball. Abrams was also dead last in runs saved with -13. This indicates this isn’t just a down year, this has been an issue as a Washington National.
ARM STRENGTH
The most important aspect of being positioned on the left side of the infield is arm strength. Abrams doesn’t excel in this aspect, in the 40th percentile in arm strength, but has a solid arm. Topping at 91 MPH, a transition to third base could be an alternative. With less field to cover and less defensive responsibility, third base could be a great path to success for Abrams defensively and offering more time to perfecting his offense.
PLAYER COMPARISON
Many players have transitioned to new positions due to poor defense and have excelled in those roles. Chipper Jones transitioned from shortstop to third base early in his career due to errors and Jones turned into a solid defender and posted a Hall-of-Fame career. Jones was also struggling at the plate as well, and the transition to third base was to take the defensive pressure off of him and let him develop as a hitter. A transition like this could benefit his continuous development as a hitter while helping Washington’s defense as a whole.
Fernado Tatis Jr. became the highest-paid shortstop ever and was forced to transition into the outfield. With his incredible arm talent, Tatis won a Platinum Glove in 2024, labeling him as one of the best defenders in the sport. Abrams played in the outfield in 2022 but has not played there since.
Brice Turang won the Platinum Glove award in 2024, making him the best defender in the game last season. Turang made his debut in 2023 at second base with Willy Adames still in Milwaukee. Turang excelled defensively and Abrams could play well at second base. I am not saying he would turn into the defender Turang is, but the switch could make him a more impactful defender in a less defensive-oriented position.
THE CASE FOR THE POSITION CHANGE
CJ Abrams has blossomed offensively, turning heads at just 24 years old. Already in his fourth year in the big leagues, Abrams has earned the term “franchise building block”, earning a long-term spot with the Washington Nationals. With the defensive issues throughout his career, Abrams has progressed this season from last season, showing signs of long-term shortstop capability.
However, a position change could benefit the growth and development of CJ Abrams’s game. Taking away defensive responsibility and placing it into his offensive game could be more important for turning Washington around. Luis Garcia Jr. has struggled defensively as well, with questions arising about his long-term fit with Washington, potentially opening up a spot for Abrams at second base.
Depending on the development of Brady House, a transition to second base could be the answer and the answer not just for Abrams’ future, but Washington’s as well.