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 concern. 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 a neighborhood on line casino till 8 a.m. earlier than Friday’s day sport. 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 complicated in West Palm Seashore, Fla., till the tip of the Main League season, the place a gaggle of Pink Wings gamers additionally will likely be staying ready.
“I’m going to assist CJ,” Martinez mentioned. “He’s a giant a part of our Nats household, and he will likely be. However at this level, for me, it’s the correct factor to do.”
Abrams was knowledgeable of the choice following the Nationals’ sport on Friday. Martinez mentioned his personal “feelings had been everywhere in the map” in the course of the dialog.
“We had our moments, we sat right here and we weeped collectively,” mentioned Martinez. “As I at all times say, it’s about taking good care of the particular person first and never the participant. I’m going to do all the pieces 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 turned 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 group historical past (2005-present).
“He’s going to be missed, as everyone knows, but it surely had nothing to do along with his efficiency,” Martinez mentioned. “The child was a 20-30 man. I do know he struggled a bit of bit, however so does each younger participant. However he was doing effectively.”
The Nationals expressed their assist 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 complete huge league careers. It’s a troublesome scenario for me, and I’m at all times going to be [there] for CJ on this scenario. It’s attention-grabbing. It was a troublesome 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 troublesome day.”
Joey Gallo, who turned teammates with Abrams this season, mentioned, “I can converse from my expertise with CJ — it’s been nice. He’s nonetheless a younger child, and I feel all of us type of make errors. We’ve all talked to him and simply mentioned to maintain his head up. He actually has had a incredible yr. He’s actually a excessive character man, he performs the sport the correct manner day by day, and he’s an excellent 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 excellent participant for this group.”
In a corresponding transfer, infielder Trey Lipscomb was recalled from Rochester. Nasim Nuñez acquired the beginning at shortstop on Saturday.
“I guarantee you that he’ll be higher, he will likely be,” Martinez mentioned of Abrams. “We talked a very long time yesterday and final time earlier than we made any selections. 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 moving into any particulars, this, to me, was the correct factor to do.”