The Washington Nationals are moving All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to second base, manager Blake Butera announced Friday.
Abrams has played the position exclusively during his five seasons with the club and will swap roles with Nasim Nunez in a gradual transition expected to take more than a day but less than several weeks.
Abrams has already begun working out at second.
“Just thought this was the best thing for our team going forward,” Butera said, via MLB.com. “We think with those two up the middle and Nasim playing more shortstop gives us the best chance.”
Abrams is posting career-best offensive numbers, with 28 home runs, a major league-leading 91 RBIs, a .284 batting average and an .898 OPS. He started for the National League in the All-Star Game. Defensively, he leads the majors with 19 errors and carries a .958 fielding percentage that would stand as a career low.
Nunez has nine errors and a .965 fielding percentage at second base while leading the majors in range factor at the position. Abrams last appeared at second in 13 games as a 2022 rookie with the San Diego Padres.
The Nationals used first-round picks on shortstops Seaver King in 2024 and Eli Willits, the No. 1 overall selection in 2025 and the organization’s top prospect. Butera said the club is balancing present needs with future planning.
Abrams acknowledged the decision while noting his long history at shortstop.
“That’s just where I’ve been playing my whole life,” he said. “I believe I can be a great shortstop.”
He added that the switch “is not too big of a change.”
Butera described Abrams as understanding the team-first rationale behind the move.
