SAN ANTONIO — CJ Abrams has his eyes on the prize. For the time being he’s getting a glimpse of Minor League Baseball. 

Abrams was the San Diego Padres' first-round draft pick in 2019. He’s now playing Double-A baseball this spring with the San Antonio Missions. 

“Obviously, I want to get there as soon as possible,” said Abrams about his trajectory toward Major League Baseball. “But it’s out of my control. I just got to be the best I can be on the field and produce.” 

The introduction to minor leagues includes a six-game series in the COVID-modified schedule and long bus rides to Corpus Christi and Midland, Texas. 

“First road trip I've been on, it was kind of fun,” CJ Abrams said. “Playing baseball anywhere is fun, new places, getting to see new parks.” 

The ballparks might be new, but CJ Abrams’ approach has remained the same. 

“Come ready to play, wanting to win,” CJ Abrams said. “Get into the field early, start work, whether it’s ground balls, hand-eye coordination and then hitting in the cage.” 

His quest to improve is guided by the five words that were ingrained in him by his father.

“Control what I can control,” CJ Abrams said. 

“Control what you can control. That was kind of a mantra we had all the way through life for him as a kid,” said CJ’s father, Chris Abrams. 

That mantra has worked for CJ Abrams so far. 

“Ever since I could walk, he put a bat in my hand,” CJ Abrams said. “He’s coming up with new things to try, making adjustments. Anything you can think of really, he’s probably done it.” 

His dad has been his hitting coach since day one. 

“My goal was to try to create some muscle memories, some movement where it will click. And oftentimes it led to some dangerous contraptions that are still there in the garage today,” Abrams said. 

From the garage in Georgia to the No. 8 prospect in baseball, the 20-year-old looks like he’s on the fast track to the big leagues. 

“I'm trying to tell him ‘don't put pressure on yourself,’” Chris Abrams said. “Go out, have fun, enjoy being here with the Missions and Double-A baseball. It only happens once, to very few people.” 

It’s fatherly advice that Abrams is keeping handy on his journey to the majors. 

“Try to stay positive with everything. Take the good out of everything and then learn from the bad,” CJ Abrams said. “The more I can simplify things, the better I will be.”