Washington Nationals' C.J. Abrams demoted following overnight casino visit

Sponsored Ad

Washington Nationals All-Star C.J. Abrams has been demoted to the team's minor league complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, after reportedly spending the night at a casino before the Nationals' game against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Reports indicate that the 23-year-old shortstop was at the Chicago-area casino until approximately 8 a.m., just hours before the scheduled game.

In the game against the Cubs, Abrams went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Nationals manager Dave Martinez clarified that the demotion was not based on performance, despite Abrams struggling during the second half of the season, which concludes next Sunday. “It’s an internal issue. I’m not going to give specifics,” Martinez stated.

Abrams had a strong first half of the season, being selected as an All-Star with 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases. However, his performance declined, culminating in a .203 batting average for the second half of the season. This demotion means Abrams will remain at the minor league complex for the remainder of the season. The Nationals are expected to miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year after winning the World Series in 2019.