CJ Abrams, James Wood take a new approach to ward off second-half slump

CJ Abrams and James Wood got into a rare dispute on July 4.

After the Nationals’ 7-1 loss to the Pirates, assembled reporters waited to see which of Washington’s two All-Star representatives would go first to talk about the accolade.

Abrams was adamant that he go first, saying, “It’ll be quick.” It was part statement, part prediction. True to his word, the shortstop’s media session lasted exactly 2 minutes, 20 seconds. Wood? A glacial 2 minutes, 59 seconds. Both men are taciturn by nature. But this wasn’t an instance of Wood and Abrams trying to jet out of the clubhouse to get home as quickly as possible.

In many ways, postgame is when their days begin. Abrams, who on Tuesday will start in an All-Star Game for the first time in his career, and Wood, who was named to his second All-Star Game, are among the last to leave Washington’s clubhouse after games. A year older and wiser, they’ve taken postgame workouts and treatment more seriously to hopefully find consistency in the second half of a season as the Nationals (48-47) chase a National League wild card spot (they’re 3.5 games out at the break).

Abrams and Wood both fell off late last year. Abrams hit 12 homers with a .287 batting average before the 2025 All-Star break; after, he hit .217 with seven home runs. Wood followed his All-Star first half — 24 homers with a .278 batting average and a .915 on-base plus slugging (OPS) — with only seven home runs, a .223 average and a .689 OPS.

Both felt worn down over the course of the season. This year, they’ve diligently completed a full-body workout after the first two games of every series. Abrams has trouble keeping weight on and has worked to consume more calories this year, too.

That strength improvement, combined with an improved approach at the plate, allowed Abrams to tie his career high for homers in a season before the All-Star break.

“I’m less worn out,” Abrams said. “I’m ready to go pretty much every day.”

For Wood, the focus has been on maintaining power in his lower half. The outfielder dealt with nagging knee and quad injuries last season. He’s been a constant in the weight room and in getting treatment for his body, whether it’s getting in the cold tub or hot tub or stretching to ensure his body doesn’t wear down as it did last season.

“[My body’s] definitely in a much better spot,” Wood said.

“They’re staying honest about routines and preparation,” catcher Drew Millas said. “And I think that has taken them to a whole new level.”

Dedication to detail is not the only change teammates have noticed in Abrams and Wood. Maturity is showing up in their demeanor, too.

“CJ has that confidence and swag about him,” outfielder Daylen Lile said. “On his bad days, he flushes them and knows the next day he can turn it all around. It’s just nice picking his brain about the mindset of believing in yourself and that sort of thing.”

Manager Blake Butera said recently that he opts for playful smack talk when Abrams is going through a slump. There’s a levity to Abrams that allows him to weather subpar stretches.

“If he’s 0-for-2 in a game with two strikeouts, he knows that the last two at-bats he could turn around with one swing,” Lile said. “We all have the physical abilities, but [the key] is the mind: to train how to believe in yourself on days that you feel like you’re the worst player in the world. You still have to find ways to believe in yourself and trust yourself.”