CJ

Abrams

Abrams’ hit off Keaton Winn tied the game. He then stole second base and scored the go-ahead run on a Daylen Lile single. Abrams is batting .289/.382/.533 while making a strong bid for his second All-Star appearances. He’s second in the majors with 51 RBI. Last year, he finished tied for 130th place with 60 in 144 games

Abrams will not stop hitting. He hit a game-tying home run in the eighth inning of this one and then what felt like it would’ve been the clinching two-run triple in the 10th. Alas, the Braves stormed back to take this one, but those three runs batted in brought Abrams’ total to 45 on the season, which leads the league. His .947 OPS is also fifth-highest as he’s put together the best offensive stretch of his career so far this season.

Abrams gave rookie Zach Thornton a taste of big league life in his debut with a loud three-run homer in the first inning. A strange but true stat courtesy of the Nationals’ TV booth, this was the fourth time Abrams hit a home run off a pitcher making their major league debut. Even more surreal, it was the third time he did so in the first inning! He chipped in another base hit to start the Nationals’ sixth inning rally and continued what appears to be a major breakout campaign for the 25-year-old shortstop. In total, he’s up 10 home runs with 42 RBI, seven stolen bases, a .300 batting average, and a .928 OPS. Those are star numbers as we’re nearly through one third of the season.

Funny enough, the Nationals trailed this game 3-2 entering the bottom of the fifth before unleashing their wrath on the Twins’ bullpen. Abrams was at the center of the onslaught with a double that helped chase Bailey Ober and then a late grand slam when the rout was on. That was already Abrams’ ninth home run of the season and his five RBI brought him to 33 total, which tied him with both Matt Olson and Andy Pages for most in the league. Here’s to hoping that Abrams’ breakout is finally here and he can sustain something near this power production moving forward.

After the Nats were held scoreless through four innings, Abrams led off the fifth with a base hit, stole second, then scored the team’s first run on a base hit. He later led off the seventh with his second hit and scored again. The 25-year-old shortstop is having an outstanding season, hitting .297/.406/.534 with eight homers, 19 runs scored, 27 RBI, and six steals across 143 plate appearances.

Abrams’ homer was a go-ahead, two-run shot off Luke Weaver in the eighth. He knew it too, immediately pointing to the Washington dugout after making contact. It’s the continuation of what appears to be a breakout campaign for the 25-year-old shortstop. Abrams has simultaneously increased his barrel and walk rates while lowering his strikeout rate. He’s now Washington’s primary cleanup hitter after opening the season batting mostly fifth and sixth.

He hit it off of the right-centerfield second deck, a majestic 426-foot shot off of JR Ritchie in the fourth inning. Abrams is hitting a robust .292/.413/.562 in his first 25 games and is on pace to shatter his career high of 20 homers. He’s been a steal considering he wasn’t one of the first five shortstops off the board in most leagues and he’s played as well as any non-Elly De La Cruz keystone player so far.

A very strange statline for Abrams that will be great for his on-base percentage. His Nationals were shutout, but he got himself on base every time he came to the plate. It’s been a banner season for him so far with a .367 batting average and 1.175 OPS through 18 games. He’s hitting the ball harder than he ever has and our fingers are crossed that his breakout is finally here.

Maybe it’s time for the Nationals to move Abrams back up in the lineup? He was still fifth tonight, but he’s hitting an exceptional .356/.426/.695 with six homers and 19 RBI. Only Andy Pages, with 20, has more RBI this season.

Abrams opened the scoring with a first-inning solo shot against Pirates ace Paul Skenes, sending a fly ball into the right-field seats for his fifth round-tripper of the year already. The 25-year-old speedster is off to a phenomenal start at the dish, hitting .327 (18-for-55) with five homers, 17 RBI and four steals through 15 games.