Nationals recall CJ Abrams

The Washington Nationals recalled shortstop C.J. Abrams from Triple-A Rochester and placed infielder Luis García on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to Aug. 13) with a left groin strain on Monday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Abrams, 21, is Washington’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 11 overall prospect in baseball according to Baseball America. Acquired on Aug. 2 from San Diego, Abrams hit .290 (9-for-31) with two doubles, two RBI, two walks and four stolen bases in eight games for Triple-A Rochester.

The 6-foot-2, 189-pound Abrams was San Diego’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 9 prospect in all of baseball entering the 2022 season, according to both Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com. He was cited by Baseball America as being the “best hitter” and having the “best speed” in all of Minor League baseball entering the 2022 season.

Abrams made San Diego’s Opening Day roster and his Major League debut this season, starting the second game of the season at shortstop. He hit .232 with five doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI, four walks, one stolen base and 16 runs scored in 46 games across two Major League stints with the Padres this season.

He was selected to represent the Padres in the 2021 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. He has been cited by Baseball America as the “best defensive infielder” (2021, 2022), “best athlete” (2020-22), “fastest baserunner” (2020-22) and “best hitter for average” (2020-22) in San Diego’s Minor League system throughout his professional career. Following the 2019 season, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the rookie-level Arizona League and to Baseball America’s Rookie All-Star team.

In three Minor League seasons, Abrams is a .331 hitter with 12 home runs, 33 doubles, nine triples, 75 RBI and 42 stolen bases in 114 games.

A native of Atlanta, Abrams was selected by San Diego No. 6 overall in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft from Blessed Trinity Catholic (GA) High School. He was named the 2019 Georgia Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and the No. 2 high school prospect in the 2019 Draft according to Baseball America and Perfect Game.

García, 22, was batting .289 with 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 25 RBI in 60 games for the Nationals this season.