CJ Abrams’ next defensive home might not be the one Washington first had in mind.
The Nationals previously made it clear during the 2026 season that they planned to move Abrams from shortstop to second base, a change that came after years of trouble at short. He had piled up errors and, by advanced metrics, ranked among the game’s weakest defenders at the position.
But the club never really got a clean evaluation of him at second. An ankle injury cut into his time in the field, and when he was healthy enough to play defense, most of his work still came at shortstop.
There was also a personal side to the decision. Abrams was not pleased with the idea, in part because it could affect his future earning power, and in part because he takes pride in being the team’s shortstop.
Even so, a shift is still expected to happen. The wrinkle is that it may not be to second base after all.
“The big question surrounding Abrams is: Will he remain at shortstop or will he move to the outfield? Some folks believe his long-term future will be the latter,” wrote Robert Murray of FanSided.
That note stands out heading into the offseason. Washington has not publicly suggested Abrams is being viewed as an outfielder, but Murray’s reporting indicates some around the league are already assessing him that way.
The Nationals still could leave the door open at short if his defense improves, and the appeal is obvious: a shortstop who can hit 30-plus home runs and drive in 100-plus runs while holding his own defensively would be one of the sport’s most valuable players. The problem is that outcome looks unlikely, which is why second base had been the expected landing spot in 2027 with top prospect Seaver King taking over at short.
The outfield idea comes with its own baggage. Abrams has only three major league games there, all in 2022 with the San Diego Padres as a right fielder. His minor league outfield sample is just as thin, with only two games and two starts in center at Triple-A in 2022.
At 26, a move to a corner outfield spot would still be a surprise given how little he has played there in live action. But at least some people around the game believe that is where his long-term path may lead. Whether that happens while he’s still in a Nationals uniform remains to be seen.
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