Black MiLB Players #7: CJ Abrams
Background + Path to Professional Baseball
CJ Abrams is a 20-year-old shortstop in the San Diego Padres organization from Alpharetta, Georgia. Abrams was introduced to the game by his parents, picking up a bat for the first time at 18 months old. Abrams started playing youth baseball at four years old against six-year-olds, one of the many flashes of his elite talent on the diamond that started at a very young age. Abrams was the starting shortstop for Blessed Trinity High School’s baseball team, where he had an illustrious career. Abrams was the second-ranked high school player in his draft class, projected by pundits to be taken within the top ten picks of the 2019 MLB Draft.
He was drafted by the San Diego Padres with the sixth overall pick of the 2019 MLB Draft. After signing his professional contract with San Diego, he received a 5.2 million dollar signing bonus. Abrams made his professional debut in the Arizona Rookie League during the 2019 MiLB season, playing for the Padres AZL 1 affiliate. In 165 plate appearances across 34 games, he put up a .393/.436/.647 slash line with 14 stolen bases, 0.71 BB/K(10 BB/14 K), 12 doubles, and 8 triples. Abrams was dominant in his first stint of professional baseball, and this caused him to rocket up prospect ranking lists everywhere.
The middle infielder spent 2020 at the Padres alternate site since the 2020 MiLB season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization was ecstatic about Abrams’s growth in all facets of the game even though there was no Minor League season. They were pleased with the notable amount of muscle he added to his frame, which allows him to drive the ball more frequently and accrue more extra-base hits. The shortstop from Georiga worked closely with the San Diego infielder coordinator and High-A affiliate manager to improve his defense, making strides defensively with the glove.
With the return of Minor League Baseball for 2021, the Padres brain trust aggressively moved Abrams to their Double-A affiliate, where he was the youngest player at the Double-A level. Unfortunately, Abrams’ season was cut short due to a collision at second base where he fractured his left tibia and sprained his MCL. In 183 plate appearances scattered across 42 games, Abrams put up a .296/.363/.420 slash line, which grades out to a 114 wRC+. What he did as the youngest player in all of Double-A with only 34 games of prior experience in MiLB and almost all of it coming in rookie ball is extremely impressive, and a sign of future success.
Player Profile
CJ Abrams is 6'2'’, weighs 185 pounds, bats left-handed, and throws right-handed. He is built like your prototypical shortstop, slender and athletic frame with wiry strength that does not hinder mobility. He has a simple and fluid left-handed swing that combines an elite ability to make contact with average to above-average power. Abrams has an all-fields approach, and is very adept at taking pitches on the outer half of the plate up the middle or the opposite way. In addition to his ability to frequently make effective contact, Abrams has shown he can work the count and draw walks.
What seperates Abrams from his peers is his speed, as he is one of the fastest players in professional baseball currently. While the tibia fracture and MCL sprain will probably effective his game even after he is cleared to play, expect Abrams to be one of the best baserunners in whatever league he is playing in. In addition to the all-world speed, Abrams is able to make quality reads and sound decisions on the basepaths.
There are a pretty good range of outcomes for where Abrams will wind up defensively, but none of them are bad due to the fact that he will probably wind up at an up the middle position or bouncing between multiple. He has experience as a shortstop, second baseman, and centerfielder, along with the athleticism and arm to be a great defender at all three positions. There is a very possible chance Abrams could be a super-utility player similar to Chone Figgins, except with more power.
