James Wood (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = James Wood

| image = Washington Nationals player, James Wood (8994611) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Wood with the Washington Nationals in 2025

| width =

| team = Washington Nationals

| number = 29

| position = Outfielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|9|17}}

| birth_place = Rockville, Maryland, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 1

| debutyear = 2024

| debutteam = Washington Nationals

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = April 29, 2025

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .262

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 18

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 62

| teams =

Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2024}}–present)

}}

James Irvin Wood (born September 17, 2002) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Early life and amateur career

Wood grew up in Olney, Maryland, and initially attended high school in Washington, D.C., where he played baseball and basketball. He transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida after his sophomore season, giving up basketball in order to focus solely on baseball.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/19/st-johns-baseball-team-requirement-play-coachs-private-team-causes-turmoil/|title=For St. John's baseball team, a requirement to play for coach's private team causes turmoil|first=Roman|last=Stubbs|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 19, 2020|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=May 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527062414/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/19/st-johns-baseball-team-requirement-play-coachs-private-team-causes-turmoil/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=18886|title=Ball bounces James Wood|website=Perfect Game|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629065845/https://www.perfectgame.org/articles/View.aspx?article=18886|url-status=live}} He committed to play college baseball at Mississippi State shortly before transferring to IMG.{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Article/Mississippi-State-2021-commitment-James-Wood-148665646/|title=MSU 2021 commitment James Wood comes from an athletic family|website=GenesPage.com|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=December 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218083008/https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Article/Mississippi-State-2021-commitment-James-Wood-148665646/|url-status=live}} After a strong performance while playing in the 2020 Area Code Games, Wood entered his senior year as a top prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-mlb-draft-prospect-james-wood-generates-immense-scouting-buzz/|title=2021 MLB Draft Prospect James Wood Generates Immense Scouting Buzz|work=Baseball America|date=August 31, 2020|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721131307/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-mlb-draft-prospect-james-wood-generates-immense-scouting-buzz/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/area-code-games-top-performers|title='21 Draft prospects starred at Area Codes|first=Jim|last=Callis|website=MLB.com|date=August 12, 2020|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721131306/https://www.mlb.com/news/area-code-games-top-performers|url-status=live}} Wood batted .258 as a senior, causing him to fall slightly in most draft prospect rankings.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Article/James-Wood-Mississippi-State-MLB-draft-San-Diego-Padres-167663576/|title=Bulldog signee James Wood selected by Padres|first=Steve|last=Robertson|website=247Sports.com|date=July 12, 2021|access-date=July 13, 2021|archive-date=July 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712175741/https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Article/James-Wood-Mississippi-State-MLB-draft-San-Diego-Padres-167663576/|url-status=live}}

Professional career

=San Diego Padres=

The San Diego Padres selected Wood in the second round, with the 62nd overall pick, in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2021/07/12/james-wood-mlb-draft-2021-mississippi-state-baseball/7915277002/|title=San Diego Padres pick Mississippi State signee James Wood in Round 2 of 2021 MLB Draft|work=The Clarion-Ledger|date=July 12, 2021|access-date=July 13, 2021|archive-date=December 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218083002/https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2021/07/12/james-wood-mlb-draft-2021-mississippi-state-baseball/7915277002/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/padres-james-wood-drafted-by-padres/|title=Padres' James Wood: Drafted by Padres|website=CBS Sports|date=July 12, 2021|access-date=July 13, 2021|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713191446/https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/padres-james-wood-drafted-by-padres/|url-status=live}} He signed with the team on July 20, 2021, and received a $2.6 million signing bonus, compared with the draft slot's recommended bonus of $1.1 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2021-07-20/padres-james-wood-2021-mlb-draft-ryan-och-ryan-bergert|title=Padres sign second-rounder James Wood for $2.6 million|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=July 20, 2021|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721020414/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2021-07-20/padres-james-wood-2021-mlb-draft-ryan-och-ryan-bergert|url-status=live}} Wood was assigned to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Padres to start his professional career, batting .372 with three home runs, 22 RBI, and ten stolen bases over 26 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2021-07-30/padres-minor-league-report-esteury-ruiz-james-wood|title=Minors: Missions power up; James Wood makes pro debut in Arizona|first=Jeff|last=Sanders|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=July 30, 2021|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730122215/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2021-07-30/padres-minor-league-report-esteury-ruiz-james-wood|url-status=live}} He opened the 2022 season with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Single-A California League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2022-04-09/minors-where-the-padres-top-prospects-are-to-start-2022|title=Minors: Where the Padres' top prospects are to start 2022|date=April 9, 2022}}

=Washington Nationals=

On August 2, 2022, the Padres traded Wood, CJ Abrams, Luke Voit, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell, and Jarlín Susana to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Juan Soto and Josh Bell.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/juan-soto-padres-trade|title=Padres finalize deal with Nats to land Soto, Bell|first=AJ|last=Cassavell|website=MLB.com|date=August 2, 2022|access-date=August 2, 2022}} The Nationals assigned him to the Fredericksburg Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League.{{cite web|url=https://fredericksburg.com/sports/baseball/professional/returning-home-james-wood-makes-instant-impact-with-frednats/article_9c52e8dc-8781-5867-85d7-c5bfd3888761.html|title=Returning home, James Wood makes instant impact with FredNats|work=The Free Lance–Star|date=August 9, 2022|access-date=August 10, 2022}} Wood batted .293 with eight doubles, two home runs, and 17 RBI in 21 games with Fredericksburg.{{cite web|url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/prospects-at-instructional-league-visited-nats-in-miami|title=Prospects at instructional league visited Nats in Miami|first=Bobby|last=Blanco|website=MASN|date=September 27, 2022|access-date=January 26, 2023}} He was assigned to the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks at the beginning of the 2023 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/quiet-wood-is-secretly-the-funny-leader-of-talented-wilmington-roster|title=Quiet Wood is secretly the funny leader of talented Wilmington roster|first=Bobby|last=Blanco|website=MASN|date=April 14, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023}} Wood was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators after batting .293 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 42 games with Wilmington.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/05/28/james-wood-promoted-nationals-prospect/|title=Nationals prospect James Wood promoted to Harrisburg Senators|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 28, 2023|access-date=June 27, 2023}} He then hit .248 with 18 homers and 10 steals in 87 games for Harrisburg.{{Cite web |title=James Wood Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=wood--009jam |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was selected to play in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web|url=https://fredericksburg.com/sports/professional/former-frednats-wood-house-to-appear-in-mlb-futures-game/article_486e4518-147e-11ee-85fe-dfac8d953f4d.html|title=Former FredNats Wood, House to appear in MLB Futures Game|work=The Free Lance–Star|date=June 26, 2023|access-date=June 27, 2023}}

File:Wood Crews 2024.jpg on deck in 2024.]]

Wood was promoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2024 |title=Nationals' James Wood: Starting season at Triple-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/nationals-james-wood-starting-season-at-triple-a/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} After hitting .353 with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 52 games at Triple-A,{{Cite web |last=Communications |first=Nationals |date=July 1, 2024 |title=Nationals select the contract of top prospect James Wood |url=https://curlyw.mlblogs.com/nationals-select-the-contract-of-top-prospect-james-wood-76b5797c43b9 |access-date=July 1, 2024 |website=Medium |language=en}} Wood was ranked as the #1 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America's 2024 midseason update.{{Cite web |title=James Wood Ranks No. 1 In July 2024 Top 100 MLB Prospects Update |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/james-wood-ranks-no-1-in-july-2024-top-100-mlb-prospects-update/ |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=Baseball America |date=July 12, 2024}} He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on July 1, 2024. On July 1, he got his first hit, a single, in the second inning against New York Mets' pitcher David Peterson.{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2024 |title=James Wood logs his first MLB hit |url=https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/1807916343683174767?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet |access-date=July 1, 2024 |website=X.com}} Wood finished the 2024 season playing in 79 games, hitting .264 with 9 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.

On April 25 against the New York Mets, Wood hit his first career walk-off hit via a RBI single to give the Nationals a 5-4 victory over the Mets.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/james-wood-hits-walk-off-rbi-single-in-nationals-win|title=Wood calls game vs. Mets with 1st career walk-off hit|first=Jessica|last=Camerato|website=MLB.com|date=April 25, 2025|access-date=April 25, 2025}}

Player profile

Wood is listed at {{convert|6|ft|7|in}} and {{convert|234|lbs}}, {{Cite web |title=James Wood MLB Stats|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodja03.shtml |access-date=January 30, 2025|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} making him one of the tallest current players in MLB. He is regarded as a player with high potential because of his power, consistent ball contact, and speed. {{Cite web |title=The Next Young Star in Major League Baseball: James Wood|url=https://www.theskippersview.com/p/the-next-young-star-in-major-league |date=January 1, 2025|access-date=January 30, 2025|website=theskippersview.com}} In his rookie season he had an Average Exit Velocity of 92.8 mph (95th percentile among MLB players) and a Sprint Speed of 28.7 feet per second (85th percentile). {{Cite web |title=James Wood 2024 MLB Percentile Rankings|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/james-wood-695578?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb |access-date=January 30, 2025|website=baseballsavant.mlb.com}}

Personal life

Wood's father, Kenny Wood, played college basketball at Richmond, where he is a member of the school's athletic hall of fame, and professionally in Europe.{{cite web|url=https://sagharborexpress.com/james-wood-son-of-east-hampton-basketball-legend-kenny-wood-makes-his-mark-on-baseball-diamond/?wallit_nosession=1|title=James Wood, Son Of East Hampton Basketball Legend Kenny Wood, Makes His Mark On Baseball Diamond|date=December 9, 2020|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721131317/https://sagharborexpress.com/james-wood-son-of-east-hampton-basketball-legend-kenny-wood-makes-his-mark-on-baseball-diamond/?wallit_nosession=1|url-status=live}} His sister, Sydney Wood, played college basketball for Northwestern and was a team captain.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/05/25/james-wood-size-nationals-prospect/|title=Nationals prospect James Wood challenges baseball's size bias|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 25, 2023|access-date=June 29, 2023}} Wood is the nephew of former NBA player Howard Wood.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/3278750/2022/04/28/how-james-wood-an-outfielder-with-first-round-draft-talent-fell-to-the-padres-in-the-second/|title=How James Wood, an outfielder with first-round draft talent, fell to the Padres in the second|first=Dennis|last=Lin|website=The Athletic|date=April 28, 2022|access-date=June 29, 2023}}