The past few months have been rough for CJ Abrams. The San Diego Padres‘ top prospect saw his 2021 campaign cut short due to a collision at second base that resulted in a fractured tibia and torn MCL. As he was recovering from those injuries, Abrams had also been dealing with a shoulder issue, complicating his timeline.
However, the Padres have received some good news regarding Abrams. His shoulder issue was minor and he is now back to full baseball activities with the expectation that he will be ready for spring training.
A small but not insignificant update: #Padres SS prospect CJ Abrams (shoulder) back to full baseball activity this month in AZ and SD. #Padres will look to get him playing in mini camp before minor league spring training starts (or if big league camp ever gets going).
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) January 28, 2022
San Diego Padres get great news with CJ Abrams
Abrams is considered one of the top prospects in the game, ranking as a consensus top 15 prospect. The Padres shortstop is considered to be an exciting player, with top of the charts speed and ability to make hard contact. He has also added strength to his frame since being drafted, giving him more power potential than one may have otherwise expected.
Those abilities were on display last year. Although he was just 20 years old in Double-A, Abrams more than held his own against older competition. He produced an excellent .296/.363/.420 batting line in his 183 plate appearances, hitting 14 doubles while stealing 13 bases.
There are questions about Abrams going forward. He has played just six games at a position aside from short, with all of those appearances coming at second base last year. With Fernando Tatis Jr. entrenched as the Padres’ shortstop, a move to second is likely as he approaches the majors.
Likewise, any leg injuries for a player that is so reliant upon the speed aspect of their game have to be a concern. While he is expected to be completely healthy and not miss a beat, it is still something that the Padres are going to need to watch going forward.
Nonetheless, the fact that Abrams is going to be ready for spring training is a positive sign. While it is likely that he will return to Double-A to begin the 2022 season, it is not unreasonable to think that he could make his major league debut by the end of the year. But it all comes down to how he performs in the next few months.
The San Diego Padres received positive news about one of their top prospects. CJ Abrams is expected to be ready to go for spring training.