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James Wood is an impressive talent both on and off the field.
Standing at 6 feet 7 inches and weighing 234 pounds, the Washington Nationals’ left fielder is known for his gentle demeanor and polite nature. He tends to shy away from self-promotion, making him a favorite among coaches and teammates alike.
“He’s a great kid and he’s almost too nice,” remarked Nationals hitting coach Darnell Coles with a grin.
This modesty was apparent even in Wood’s formative years at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. His coaches recall that he often collected the stray baseballs after practice, insisting that they didn’t need to help him.
“He’d always say, ‘I’m the one who hit them,’” said Rich Pasquale, an infield instructor at IMG after a long tenure as a college coach.
James Wood Off To Strong Start
On the field, however, Wood has displayed anything but gentleness toward opposing pitchers this season. With an impressive batting line of .257/.359/.545 and eight home runs in just 27 games, he has emerged as a key player for the Nationals during their rocky 12-15 start. Batting second in the lineup, he pairs effectively with shortstop CJ Abrams, creating a potent 1-2 combination.
Abrams, 24, has contributed to the effort with a slash line of .241/.276/.537, including four homers and three stolen bases in 14 games.
After making his major league debut on July 1, Wood’s rookie season set a promising tone, where he posted a .264/.354/.427 batting average, with nine home runs and 14 stolen bases over 79 games. This performance raised hopeful expectations for the 2025 season.
“You can see the growth in him as a player this season,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez commented. “James has really started to understand the strike zone. We had many discussions last year about pitch selection, and he’s making progress in getting pitchers to throw strikes.”
A standout moment occurred on April 15, when Wood launched a towering home run to lead off the game in a 3-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The ball, traveling an estimated 445 feet at an exit velocity of 112.6 mph, marked the longest home run of his young career.
James Wood Looks For Consistency
Despite the impressive distance of his home runs, Wood remains focused on establishing consistency as a major league player.
“It’s still early in the season, and I know it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” he stated. “I want to be consistent, as that’s what separates the good players from the rest.”
Reflecting on his transition, he added, “I feel more at ease this year. I know my teammates better and have a clearer understanding of what it takes in the big leagues, but I know there’s still a lot of growth ahead of me.”
Wood and Abrams were both part of a significant six-player trade from the San Diego Padres that involved star outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell in 2022.
With high expectations preceding his major league arrival, Wood was ranked as the 11th-best prospect by Baseball America before spring training in both 2023 and 2024. He has also showcased his talent at the All-Star Futures Game for two consecutive years.
Living up to the expectations, Wood continues to make a strong impression. Martinez noted, “He hits the ball hard and is a pleasure to watch. But he’s not just a power hitter; he has surprising speed, allowing him to capitalize on infield opportunities.”
“He comprehends the game well and is still very young. His commitment to improvement is evident, and there’s a lot to appreciate about James Wood,” Martinez concluded.
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