CJ Abrams Capitalizes on Pitchers’ Mistakes in 2023 Season
CJ Abrams has altered his approach at the plate. He treats batting practice like game at-bats and refuses to chase pitches off the heart of the plate.
Refined approach and training
He uses Trajekt machines to simulate live pitching. The devices help him focus on pitches over the heart of the zone.
Offseason work at Maven Baseball Lab in Atlanta drove mechanical changes. Staff used full-motion-capture video and force plates to assess his swing.
Specific adjustments
- Maintain a balanced, centered position when the front foot lands.
- Adopt a more vertical bat path as the barrel enters the zone.
Those fixes aimed to reduce ground balls and convert fouled pitches into hard contact.
Statistical results this season
Abrams leads the majors in batting run value with 16. That figure sits five runs ahead of the next player.
On pitches over the heart of the plate, his run value is 10. That mark leads qualified hitters.
| Run value on heart pitches (this season) | 10 |
| Batting run value (this season) | 16 |
| Run value on heart pitches (last season) | -14 |
| Zone percentage seen this season | 43.1% |
| Overall swing rate | 47.8% |
| First-pitch swing rate | 30.3% |
| Meatball rate (belt-high) | 4.7% (league 7.4%) |
| Swing rate on meatballs | 92.3% |
| Early-season batting average | .371 |
| Early-season OPS | 1.191 |
| Early-season RBI total | 19 |
Historical April performance
Across the last three Aprils, including March, Abrams hit .311. His OBP was .387 with a 1.009 OPS.
He produced 17 homers and 47 RBIs in April over that span. Those represent his best monthly totals.
Approach and outcome
He is swinging less this season. His discipline shows in first-pitch and overall swing rates.
When pitchers leave a pitch over the heart, Abrams is ready. He converts those mistakes into hard contact.
Scouts and analysts note this mirrors how CJ Abrams capitalizes on pitchers’ mistakes, a trait tracked since the 2023 season.
Coaching and front office context
Manager Blake Butera emphasized comfort and clear game plans for Abrams at the plate. The club prioritizes letting his talent show.
The Nationals acquired Abrams from the San Diego Padres in 2022. The team explored a long-term extension in 2024.
Front-office sources say extension talks did not progress. Teams asked about Abrams during winter trade talks. No club matched Washington’s asking price.
Outlook
Sample sizes are limited, and this pace may not persist all year. Still, the swing changes increase the chance of sustained success.
Improved plate coverage on heart-of-the-zone pitches could help him avoid prior second-half slumps.
Reporting and analysis for Filmogaz.com.
