Nationals Rising Star CJ Abrams Making History with Leadoff Power Surge
The Washington Nationals’ future hinges on the performance of their young core — and shortstop CJ Abrams continues to prove why the team is betting big on him.
Now in his third full season, the 24-year-old is establishing himself not only as a reliable presence atop the lineup but also as a franchise standout in a key offensive category. Abrams, who came to the Nationals in the blockbuster Juan Soto trade in 2022, has been the club’s go-to leadoff hitter — and on Friday, he made more history.
Facing Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt, Abrams launched a home run to right field to open the bottom of the first inning. That leadoff blast tied him with former teammate Lane Thomas for third-most leadoff home runs in Nationals franchise history, each with eight, per Nationals Communications.
For perspective, Trea Turner tops the list after seven seasons in D.C., while Alfonso Soriano — who played just one season for the Nats in 2006 — holds second place thanks to a 46-homer campaign. Abrams, with 41 total home runs over 340 games in Washington, is now matching Soriano’s impressive leadoff HR rate.
That kind of production is one of many reasons the Nationals continue to invest in Abrams as a cornerstone of their rebuild. He’s shown both growth and consistency — at the plate, in the clubhouse, and in the field.
So far in 2025, he’s off to a strong start, slashing .310/.333/.690 with three homers, five RBIs, and a pair of stolen bases heading into Saturday’s action. Last season, he earned his first All-Star nod and posted career highs with 20 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Originally drafted sixth overall by the San Diego Padres in 2019, Abrams made his MLB debut with them in 2022 before being shipped to Washington alongside MacKenzie Gore and James Wood. Since then, he’s steadily climbed the ranks — and he may not be done rewriting the franchise record books just yet.
Leave a Reply