Nationals’ CJ Abrams gives important injury update

The Washington Nationals are in the grips of another disappointing season. However, the team’s young shortstop has been a bright spot for the organization. Whether he’s playing solid defense or hitting jaw-dropping home runs, CJ Abrams is emerging as a star for the Nationals.

Although Abrams missed Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, he isn’t too worried about the injury and expects to be back in the lineup soon, according to Nationals insider Bobby Blanco on X. Abrams said he’s trying to relieve the upper back tightness that forced him to miss the Nationals’ series opener against LA.

The 23-year-old All-Star said he first felt the back pain during rain stoppages on Thursday, Blanco said. The Nationals’ game against the San Francisco Giants was interrupted twice by rain. There was a nearly hour-long stoppage at the start of the third inning and then a 72-minute stoppage at the start of the eighth. Despite some back problems, Abrams was able to stay in the game, which Washington ultimately lost 9-5.

However, Abrams was removed from Washington’s lineup an hour before Friday’s game against the Angels because of a back problem. The Nationals have two games left in their home series against Los Angeles. The team then has a day off on Monday before traveling to Baltimore to face the Orioles.

Abrams will not play in Saturday’s game and will likely miss Sunday’s game as well. Blanco said he hopes to rest up and then return to the field for Tuesday’s game against the Orioles.

Nationals’ CJ Abrams isn’t too worried about back problems

Abrams is having the best season of his young career and even made his first All-Star game. So far this year, he has 23 doubles, 17 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 59 RBIs and 68 runs in 108 games. Abrams has an OPS+ of 118 and 3.3 WAR for the Nationals in 2024.

In addition to the excellent offensive stats, Abrams also plays well defensively. He was worth 1.3 dWAR in 2023 and has posted 1.1 dWAR so far this season. Abrams hopes to usher in a new era for the Nationals.

Abrams was selected sixth overall in the 2019 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. After making his major league debut in 2022, Abrams was traded to the Nationals as part of the major trade that brought Juan Soto to the Padres.

Washington is 11 games under .500 and 16.5 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East entering play on Saturday. The Nationals are 8.5 games back in the National League wild card race, with seven teams ahead of them for the final postseason spot. The team has a 9-11 record since the All-Star break, including a five-game losing streak in late July.

The Nationals are on pace to finish their fifth consecutive losing season. The team hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019, when Washington defeated the Houston Astros in the World Series.