Why was CJ Abrams demoted?

The Washington Nationals are sending a message to All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams by demoting him for staying out late.

As per a report by Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the Washingtons demoted Abrams to the minor leagues, as he stayed out all night at a Chicago-based casino and left only hours before the team played a game against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Abrams made 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout in the game.

“I just want it to be known it wasn’t performance-based,” Dave Martinez, manager of Washington Nationals, told the media on Saturday.

“It’s an internal issue. I’m not going to give specifics.”

The 23-year-old SS is expected to head to West Palm Beach, home to the Washington Nationals’ minor-league complex. The triple-A season ends on Sunday, so Abrams has likely played his last game.

The Washington Nationals acquired Abrams in a deal that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres. He broke out during the 2024 season, slashing .268/.343./.489 with 15 home runs over the National’s first 89 games and was selected to 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

Passan reports that missing the final week of the Nationals’ season deal would cost Abrams about $30,000. However, he could file a grievance with the MLB Players Association if he believed that the demotion was unfair.

The Washingtons have already been officially eliminated from the postseason.