Nationals fans can surround Monday, July 1 as one of the most anticipated days in recent franchise history. They plan to promote the best people James Wood first in MLB when they return home with a series against the Mets that day, reports Grant Paulsen of 106.7 FM The Fan. Talk Nats recently suggested that may be the target date for this prospect's debut, and it appears that is indeed the Nats' plan. Washington would need to legally opt out of Wood's contract to add him to the 40-man roster. The 21-year-old Wood, currently the No. 3 player in the game in Baseball America, was one of the frontrunners in the blockbuster trade. Juan Soto from Washington to San Diego two years ago.
Wood, now 21, was selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2021 draft. Baseball America ranked him as the #5 prospect in the San Diego program going into 2022. He increased his chances quickly, with strong showings in 50 Single-A games that year. He hit ten home runs, stole 15 bases and drew a walk in 15.7% of his plate appearances, striking out just 17.8% of the time. His .337/.453/.601 batting line translated into a 168 wRC+.
As mentioned, Wood switched teams in the 2022 deal that sent Soto to the Padres, and the Nationals also got him. CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, Jarlin Susana again Luke Voit. Wood continued at the Single-A level after that deal, hitting .293/.366/.463 for his new organization.
Heading into 2023, Wood was considered one of the top 20 prospects in the game and was hitting hard. He appeared in 129 games last year between High-A and Double-A, hitting 26 homers and swiping 18 bags. His 31.5% strikeout rate was slightly higher but he was still walking at a string clip of 11.8%.
This year, Wood's progress has continued with impressive numbers, albeit with a slight injury hiccup. In late May, he suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss a month, but he returned to the field and seems to be showing signs of aging. Through 51 Triple-A games this season, he is currently sporting a monster line of .346/.458/.578. That includes ten home runs, ten steals and a 17.3% walk rate. He also lowered his strikeout rate to an orderly 18.2%.
More to come.
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