CJ Abrams & James Wood get Silver Slugger finalist nods

CJ Abrams and James Wood get deserved Silver Slugger nominations.

The Washington Nationals shortstop and outfielder were named finalists for the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award on Thursday.

The honor recognizes the best offensive player at each position in both leagues.

Abrams is a finalist at shortstop in the National League.

Wood is a finalist among outfielders.

Both players were central to a dramatic offensive turnaround in Washington.

The Nationals finished tied for third in the National League in OPS in 2026.

They ranked sixth in home runs.

They were third in runs scored.

They were fourth in doubles.

They were third in slugging percentage.

The team also finished 12th in batting average.

Washington’s offense led all of Major League Baseball with 522 extra-base hits.

The club ranked third in the majors with 821 runs scored.

They ranked third in RBI with 777.

They ranked third in slugging percentage at .423.

They ranked third in OPS at .743.

They ranked sixth with 210 home runs.

The 821 runs scored are the second-highest total in Nationals history since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005.

Only the 2019 World Series champion Nationals scored more, with 873.

The 210 home runs are the third-highest in franchise history.

They trail only the 2019 team (231) and the 2017 team (215).

Washington posted a plus-6 run differential in 2026.

That is a dramatic improvement from 2025, when the Nationals recorded a minus-212 run differential.

The plus-218 improvement is the second-largest in Major League Baseball this season.

Only the Colorado Rockies improved more, with a plus-232 swing.

It is the best season-to-season improvement in Nationals history since 2005.

The Nationals were also named finalists for the Louisville Slugger Team Silver Slugger Award.

That award goes to the best offensive team in each league.

Washington is nominated alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs are considered the favorite based on their season-long offensive numbers.

But being nominated alone is a significant achievement for the Nationals.

It reflects a broader organizational improvement beyond just the two star players.

Catcher Keibert Ruiz, outfielder Jacob Young, infielder Andres Chaparro, infielder Curtis Mead and infielder Luis Garcia Jr. all took steps forward at the plate.

President of baseball operations Paul Toboni completed his first season running the Nationals in 2026.

The team’s offensive success is seen as a major win for player development under his leadership.

CJ ABRAMS’ SEASON

Abrams led all National League shortstops in home runs in 2026.

He hit 33.

He also led all NL shortstops in RBI with 106.

He led all NL shortstops in stolen bases with 34.

He ranked second among NL shortstops in slugging percentage at .497.

He ranked second in OPS at .833.

He ranked second in wOBA at .358.

He ranked second in wRC+ at 124.

Abrams broke the Nationals’ franchise record for home runs by a shortstop before July ended.

For the full season, Abrams hit .261 with 33 home runs, 34 stolen bases, 106 RBI and an .834 OPS.

He recorded 30 doubles.

He became the third shortstop in Major League history to record at least 30 home runs, 30 stolen bases and 100 RBI in a single season.

He joined Bobby Witt Jr., who did it in 2024, and Alex Rodriguez, who did it in 1998.

Abrams was one of only two players in MLB in 2026 with at least 30 home runs, 30 stolen bases, 30 doubles and 100 RBI.

The other was Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Abrams was the starting shortstop for the National League in the 2026 All-Star Game.

He recorded a 5.1 WAR for the season, leading the Nationals.

The Silver Slugger race at shortstop is considered tight.

Abrams is competing against Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez.

De La Cruz finished the season with a hot stretch at the plate.

That could give him an edge in voting.

But both Abrams and De La Cruz had tremendous seasons.

JAMES WOOD’S SEASON

Wood was a National League All-Star for the second consecutive year in 2026.

He led all NL outfielders in walks with 102.

He led all NL outfielders in on-base percentage at .388.

He ranked second among NL outfielders in home runs with 30.

He ranked second in runs scored with 106.

He ranked second in OPS at .891.

He ranked second in slugging percentage at .503.

He ranked second in wOBA at .383.

He ranked second in wRC+ at 142.

Wood missed 27 games during the season after being placed on the Injured List with an oblique strain.

He played in 135 games.

Despite the missed time, Wood became the first player in Major League history to hit 30 home runs, steal 20 bases and draw 100 walks while playing in fewer than 140 games in a season.

He was one of five players in MLB in 2026 to finish with at least 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

Wood recorded career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.

He matched his 2025 WAR at 3.7.

He hit 30 home runs for the second consecutive season.

He drove in 77 runs.

He also cut down on his strikeout rate significantly from previous seasons.

Wood was named National League Player of the Week twice in 2026.

He won the award on April 13 and again on July 13.

He was named Washington’s Player of the Year by the D.C. media.

Wood is a native of Rockville, Maryland, and grew up in the Washington area.

He was the best offensive outfielder in the National League during the first half of the season.

His production slowed after the All-Star break, and the oblique injury limited his playing time down the stretch.

WHAT THE SILVER SLUGGER AWARD MEANS

The Silver Slugger Award has been given annually since 1980 by the Hillerich & Bradsby Company, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger bats.

It is awarded to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League.

Winners are selected by a vote of MLB managers and coaches.

Voters are not allowed to vote for players on their own team.

The award considers batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, RBI, runs scored, stolen bases and overall offensive production.

Defensive performance is not considered.