Abrams shines on all sides in leadoff spot debut

WASHINGTON -- For the first time in his young career, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams started a game in the leadoff spot.

The No. 6 overall selection in the 2019 MLB Draft looked comfortable in his new spot in the order, finishing 1-for-3 with a single, a walk and a stolen base in Washington’s 7-2 loss to the Rangers on Friday night at Nationals Park.

Abrams was confident on defense again as well, smothering a couple of well-struck grounders and turning them into on-target outs.

"Leadoff is another spot where I’m trying to get on base,” Abrams said. "I'm always trying to get on base, just a different spot in the lineup, I guess. I'll see more pitches, more [at-bats]. You know I have fun out there on defense, try to make plays for my pitcher, and on offense, try to get on base and steal bases."

Joey Meneses’ first career multihomer game and Abrams’ debut in the leadoff spot were two positives in another tough game for the Nationals, who have returned home to drop five in a row following a promising 6-3 road trip.

With Washington’s offense continuing to look for a jumpstart, manager Dave Martinez had been contemplating moving Abrams up for some time.

"He's been getting better every day,” Martinez said. “You can see that, the way he is playing. He plays with a lot of energy. He wants to get better. I want to move him up there. I want to see if he gets better pitches. I want to see how he handles himself swinging at better pitches. Tonight was a great night for him."

Part of Martinez’s philosophy of hitting Abrams at No. 8 and No. 9 was to let the youngster get into an early groove and not feel the pressure of having to produce at the top of the lineup. But Friday was a night to showcase Abrams from the top of the order.

"I've told him for quite some time, ‘It's about me trying to take care of you, not piling up at-bats,’” Martinez said. “He's had almost 300 plate appearances now, so I think it's time. I think it's time we push him up, see what he can do. He's got all the ability to be a really good leadoff hitter.”

Ideally, a leadoff hitter will see a lot of pitches and force the opposing starter to work. Showing off his newfound calmness at the plate, Abrams played the part perfectly.

In his first at-bat, the 22-year-old saw five pitches and worked the count to 2-2 before grounding out against Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford.

With a man on in his second at-bat, he showed patience again. Falling behind 1-2 in the count, Abrams worked his way back, manufacturing a walk on seven pitches.

In his third at-bat, Abrams singled to right field, taxing Bradford for six pitches. He stole second base one batter later.

Martinez said this lineup change will not be a one-time deal. He sees Abrams as an everyday leadoff hitter.

"Yeah, I want to see him up there,” Martinez said. “There's going to be some days where it's better than others. But I want to give him the opportunity to go up there and lead off for us."

Abrams also flashed his elite glovework. In the seventh, he made a diving play behind second base to smother a hot shot off the bat of Josh Jung, then rolled over on the ground and fired from his knees to Dominic Smith at first base to record the out.

"I just kind of let the athleticism take over,” Abrams said. “I wasn't really thinking. It was kind of cool, though."