The Washington Nationals stirred attention with the announcement of All-Star shortstop sent down to Triple-A Rochester. Although the 23-year-old has been struggling recently, the decision was unexpected, given that Abrams is viewed as a key part of the team’s future, with just eight days left in the season. So why now?
According to Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, the move isn’t due to performance issues. Instead, it’s reportedly a consequence of off-field behavior. Abrams, once the Nationals’ top prospect, was spotted staying out all night at a Chicago casino, remaining there until 8 AM the day before a 1 PM game against the Cubs. He broke curfew and has been demoted for the final week of the season as a result.
The Nationals’ front office has responded firmly to the situation, making a clear statement with Abrams’ demotion. He won’t even suit up for Triple-A Rochester, as the Red Wings’ season concludes on Sunday. Instead, Abrams will spend the final week of his season at the team’s spring training facility in West Palm Beach.
Abrams wraps up the year with a .246/.314/.433 slash line, alongside 20 home runs, 61 RBI, and 31 stolen bases. As the centerpiece of the Juan Soto trade a few years ago, he has largely met expectations thus far. This demotion won’t affect his service time since Abrams has already surpassed the 172-day threshold that counts as a full MLB season. He is set to enter arbitration this winter, with four arbitration cycles remaining on his contract.
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