CHICAGO — The Nationals optioned 23-year-old All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
“I simply need it to be recognized, it wasn’t performance-based,” mentioned supervisor Dave Martinez. “It’s an inside difficulty. I’m not going to provide specifics.”
Early Friday, a put up on X by Cody Delmendo of CHGO Sports activities mentioned that Abrams was at an area on line casino till 8 a.m. earlier than Friday’s day recreation. When requested in regards to the put up on Saturday, Martinez mentioned, “Like I mentioned, I’m not going to get into any specifics. We’re going to deal with this internally.”
The plan is for Abrams to return to Washington, D.C., after which to the Nationals’ coaching advanced in West Palm Seaside, Fla., till the tip of the Main League season, the place a gaggle of Crimson Wings gamers additionally might be staying ready.
“I’m going to help CJ,” Martinez mentioned. “He’s an enormous a part of our Nats household, and he might be. However at this level, for me, it’s the best factor to do.”
Abrams was knowledgeable of the choice following the Nationals’ recreation on Friday. Martinez mentioned his personal “feelings had been everywhere in the map” through the dialog.
“We had our moments, we sat right here and we weeped collectively,” mentioned Martinez. “As I all the time say, it’s about caring for the individual first and never the participant. I’m going to do all the things I can to assist him. I really like the child, he’s a very good child and he’s going to be again.”
Abrams earned his first All-Star choice in a powerful first half of the season. Following the break, although, he struggled on the plate, posting a .203/.260/.326 slash line with a .586 OPS and 5 house runs in 49 video games.
On the season as an entire, Abrams grew to become a member of the 20-30 membership with 20 homers and 31 stolen bases. He was the primary Nationals participant to take action since Alfonso Soriano in 2006 and solely the second in crew historical past (2005-present).
“He’s going to be missed, as everyone knows, however it had nothing to do along with his efficiency,” Martinez mentioned. “The child was a 20-30 man. I do know he struggled slightly bit, however so does each younger participant. However he was doing nicely.”
The Nationals expressed their help for Abrams following their 5-1 win over the Cubs.
“CJ’s household,” mentioned beginning left-hander MacKenzie Gore, who was a part of the Padres-Nationals commerce with Abrams. “We performed collectively our entire huge league careers. It’s a tricky state of affairs for me, and I’m all the time going to be [there] for CJ on this state of affairs. It’s fascinating. It was a tricky day listening to that. You care about him, so it was robust as a result of we’re shut, he’s household. And also you lose your finest participant, so it’s a tricky day.”
Joey Gallo, who grew to become teammates with Abrams this season, mentioned, “I can communicate from my expertise with CJ — it’s been nice. He’s nonetheless a younger child, and I believe all of us form of make errors. We’ve all talked to him and simply mentioned to maintain his head up. He actually has had a implausible 12 months. He’s actually a excessive character man, he performs the sport the best approach each day, and he’s an awesome teammate. I’ve been honored to have the ability to play with him and share the sphere with him. Hopefully, he can be taught from this and transfer on and proceed to be an awesome participant for this group.”
In a corresponding transfer, infielder Trey Lipscomb was recalled from Rochester. Nasim Nuñez received the beginning at shortstop on Saturday.
“I guarantee you that he’ll be higher, he might be,” Martinez mentioned of Abrams. “We talked a very long time yesterday and final time earlier than we made any choices. I do know that he needs to be right here. He expressed that very a lot. He mentioned he’s going to overlook his teammates. However, like I mentioned, with out entering into any particulars, this, to me, was the best factor to do.”