Two-time All-Star CJ Abrams was named NL Player of the Month for July 2026. The Nationals’ shortstop hit .348 with five doubles, 10 homers, 23 RBI and six stolen bases, He scored 17 runs, had a .742 slugging percentage and a 1.149 OPS in 23 games.
Abrams, voted the N.L.’s starting shortstop for the All-Star game, also showed improved selectivity at the plate in July, walking 11 times. He had 42 base-on-balls at the end of the month after walking just 37 times all season in 2025. His .360 on-base percentage was .45 higher than his lifetime mark.
Obtained from San Diego in the Juan Soto trade at the 2022 deadline, Abrams has been the Nats’ starting shortstop since then. Like Abrams, two others obtained in the trade – James Wood and MacKenzie Gore — also became all-stars for the Nats.
Nationals’ fans were relieved that Paul Tobani, the teams’Ppresident of Baseball Operations, resisted trade offers at the 2026 deadline, despite the swirling rumors about all the teams that wanted the 25-year-old shortstop.
Abrams frequently flashes brilliance in the field, although he still makes too many bad throws and muffs more than his share on routine grounders. Still, his renewed focus and training, weight and diet have paid off this season as he has exceeded his career highs in all the frequent cited offensive statistics, with two months to go in the 2026 season.
His 28 homers ranked second on the Nationals to Wood’s 30. CJ’s 83 RBIs at month’s end was one behind the league leader. By August 6, he led the majors with 88 runs batted in.
Abrams is the second current National to be named Player of the Month. Daylen Lile was recognized for the honor in September 2025, which was paired with Lile also being named September’s Rookie Player of the Month.
Washington baseball history 