Abrams showcases glove, power: 'I'm here for a reason'

DENVER -- All along, the Padres knew C.J. Abrams was capable of nights like this one. It’s why they’ve been so willing to accept the growing pains.

Abrams' transition to the big leagues was never going to be the smoothest, considering the circumstances. He's a 21-year-old rookie who had played all of 76 Minor League games when the Padres included him on their Opening Day roster in place of the injured Fernando Tatis Jr. Sure enough, Abrams struggled at the outset.

But Abrams also boasts a truly dazzling and unique skill set. He put it on full display on Monday night as the centerpiece to a 6-5 victory over the Rockies -- a win that snapped the Padres’ maddening 10-game losing streak at Coors Field.

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Abrams opened the game by robbing Rockies leadoff man Connor Joe of a single. He went full extension with a dive to his right, then leapt to his feet to deliver an on-target, two-hop throw to first base. He added an infield hit in the sixth. Then, with the Padres clinging to a one-run lead in the eighth, he launched a three-run blast into the right-field seats that proved to be decisive.

“I was trying to go the other way with that sinker, and he threw me a curveball,” Abrams said. “I reacted, got the hands to it.”

“He was comfortable enough to get a breaking ball and see it and put a big swing on it,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “It was obviously the key hit of the game.”

Abrams hadn’t homered since he went deep in his first at-bat in the Padres’ home opener in April. It’s mostly been a grind for him since. In mid-May, with Abrams mired in a slump and his playing time drying up, the Padres optioned their prized rookie to Triple-A.

But Abrams took that demotion in stride, raking at El Paso. When the Padres needed another infielder with Manny Machado battling a left ankle sprain, Abrams earned his callup. He has been much better, hitting .286 across 19 games since his most recent promotion.

“I'm definitely getting a little more comfortable at the plate,” Abrams said. “I'm taking my time, seeing more pitches and driving the ball.”

Ultimately, that’ll be the biggest key to Abrams’ success. His speed has always been his best tool. But he also boasts an elite set of quick hands, able to make contact with just about any pitch. In the Minors, that was fine -- because Abrams could hit those pitches with authority. In the big leagues, however, opposing pitchers have used Abrams’ aggression against him, forcing him into weak contact when, clearly, he’s capable of hitting the ball with authority.

Abrams hovered around the Mendoza line for most of his first stint in the big leagues. But, despite all the struggles, his confidence never wavered.

“I just kind of went with it,” Abrams said. “I knew I'd be OK. I'm here for a reason -- just keep going and have faith in myself.”

Said Melvin: “I talked about that back in Spring Training. His best attribute is the confidence he has in himself. When you're a rookie at the big league level, you better have it when you go through struggles. He's gone through some struggles. He's never looked like it really affects him too much.”

The Padres needed every one of the insurance runs that Abrams provided. The Rockies mounted a late rally, scoring two runs in the ninth off closer Taylor Rogers. They put the tying run at second base, before Rogers slammed the door -- fittingly, with a grounder to Abrams.

Left-hander Sean Manaea bounced back from a poor start last week against Seattle, tossing 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball in the sport’s toughest pitcher’s park. Jake Cronenworth and Machado also went deep, alongside Abrams.

It was (just barely) enough to snap what’s been a brutal stretch of games for the Padres at Coors Field. They came to Denver last month in sole possession of first place in the National League West before they were swept by the Rockies, sending them into a prolonged rut. Of course, that was nothing compared to last season, when the Padres were swept in June, then again in August, a series that marked the beginning of an ugly late-season free-fall.

“If you’re looking back to last year, I think you’re looking at the wrong thing,” Cronenworth said. “It’s always good to get a win here and start off the series on a high note.”