With Francisco Lindor dealing with an early-season injury, causing him to miss the past ten games, there has been a temporary vacancy atop the National League shortstop hierarchy. Washington Nationals star CJ Abrams didn’t hesitate or ask permission. He just decided to pull up a chair, put his feet up, and remind baseball he’s more than capable of holding the fort down until further notice.
CJ Abrams Has Been All-World Last 10 Games
Over the last ten games, CJ hasn’t just been productive – He’s regained his previous mojo again. Reminiscent of his 2024 all-star form, yet this year just feels different.
Abrams went 17-for-40 (.425) with three doubles, one triple, two bro-bombs, nine RBIs, and 11 runs scored. He’s added six stolen bases and five walks, pushing his on-base percentage over .400. Even with stiff competition from Otto Lopez & Elly De La Cruz, you can make a serious argument that Abrams is the best shortstop in the National League right now.
If he remains healthy, Abrams is on pace to obliterate his career numbers across the board. He’s currently on pace to bat .297, with 38 homers, 129 RBIs, and 81 walks, with an outstanding OPS (.939), which would put him in elite company regardless of position.
The early story of Abrams’ production isn’t told solely by the numbers; it also passes the eye test.
CJ Abrams Has Matured
The maturation of Abrams at the plate has been a sight to behold, as he has been controlling the strike zone with a calm composure that suggests his mindset this season has changed coming into each at-bat. His discipline has improved; strikeouts, which have been his Achilles heel in the past, have slightly declined, showing an improved ability to lay off bad pitches.
When pitchers come into the zone, CJ has been driving the ball with authority. When they don’t, he’s willing to pass the baton to his teammates and take his walk to first base, knowing full well he’s about to wreak havoc on the base paths. Once he’s on, it’s basically organized chaos – pitchers speed up, catchers double-check everything – leading to run production for the Nationals, as they are tied for third in the MLB with 180 runs scored.
Abrams has five errors this season, and clearly, his biggest room for growth remains on the defensive side of the ball. He can make the spectacular play at times, but he will likely never be confused for Ozzie Smith out there.
However, room for improvement remains in a couple of fundamental categories, footwork, clean fielding on a consistent basis, and utilizing his speed to improve his range on balls hit to his left side. Simply, reducing the errors this season will give his team a better chance to win and make the analytics department smile.
Is CJ Abrams The Best National League Shortstop Right Now?
Based on how he’s playing, you could argue yes and wouldn’t have to whisper about it. One thing’s for sure, right now, CJ isn’t just holding the fort down until Lindor gets back – he’s claiming it for himself.
