Who is CJ Abrams?

CJ Abrams was selected sixth overall by the Padres in the 2019 Draft, and quickly rose to become the club’s No. 1 prospect. The 20-year-old shortstop currently ranks as MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 overall prospect. But who is CJ Abrams? Here’s what to know about the sweet-swinging shortstop:

FAST FACTS
MLB organization: Padres
Birthdate: Oct. 3, 2000 (Age 21 in 2022)
Primary position: SS
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 185 lbs.
Bats/throws: Left/right
Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
School(s): Blessed Trinity (GA) HS
Drafted: 6th overall, 2019 (by SD)

His MLB debut may not be far off
He's still waiting for his callup to San Diego, but Abrams joined the Padres during 2021 and '22 Spring Training, getting some reps with the big league club and pushing for an Opening Day roster spot in '22. He also spent some time at Petco Park, as the 21-year-old was a part of the club’s alternate site squad during the shortened '20 season.

He was a .400 hitter in the Arizona League
While it hasn't been done in the big leagues since 1941, Abrams managed to reach the milestone in his first professional season. He was the first player since Jeff Bianchi in 2006 to hit .400 in the AZL, as he finished the 2019 season with a .401 average. He also struck out just 14 times in 156 plate appearances that season.

He is really, really fast
Every so often, you get a prospect who has a tool that will translate at any level. For Abrams, that’s his speed. MLB Pipeline gives him 80-grade speed, the highest projection a prospect can earn. Coming out of Blessed Trinity High School in Georgia, Abrams ran a 6.29 60-yard dash, ranking in the 99th percentile in the 2019 class according to Perfect Game.

He won a gold medal with Team USA
Abrams was a part of a stacked USA national team that took home the gold during the 2018 U-18 Pan-American Championship. He was teammates with fellow top prospects Corbin Carroll, Riley Greene, Bobby Witt Jr. and Jack Leiter, just to name a few. Abrams started all nine games for Team USA and was named to the All-Tournament team.

He was the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019
Abrams was named the 2018-19 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, joining an elite group of winners such as big leaguers Byron Buxton, Zack Wheeler, Clint Frazier and Matt Olson. He also became the highest prep selection out of Georgia since Frazier, who went fifth overall to Cleveland during the 2013 Draft.

He was a three-sport athlete in high school
While Abrams has always excelled on the diamond, he also played football and basketball at Blessed Trinity. Athleticism clearly runs in the family; his father, Chris, played NAIA basketball at Panhandle State University.