James Wood
21-Year-Old
2024 Stats
AVG
.000
HR
0
RBI
0
R
0
SB
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
This may be the offseason to explore selling high on Wood. He has big tools (70-grade raw power, 55-grade speed, 55-grade arm), but his 33.7 K% and 61.6 Contact% at Double-A illustrate the risk involved with his hit tool. A 6-foot-6, 240-pound right fielder who can handle center field in the short term, Wood was one of the big prizes Washington received from San Diego in the Juan Soto trade. He hasn't flopped like Robert Hassell, but he also hasn't improved his stock like CJ Abrams and arguably MacKenzie Gore. So many young, toolsy hitting prospects had huge 2023 seasons in the upper levels without major contact issues, that it's hard to give Wood the benefit of the doubt just due to his age (won't turn 22 until September). Fortunately for the lefty slugger, the Nationals have a top-heavy big-league roster and a top-heavy farm system, so he'll get plenty of chances over the coming years, even if he struggles initially at the highest level. The most likely outcome is that he settles in as an everyday player who hits below .250 while hitting around 30 homers with double-digit steals during his peak seasons. Read Past Outlooks
Goes yard twice at Triple-A
Wood went 4-for-5 with a double, two solo home runs, two additional runs scored and a stolen base for Triple-A Rochester in Thursday's win over Buffalo.
ANALYSIS
The 21-year-old took Ricky Tiedemann deep in the third inning and then missed his chance to hit for the cycle by crushing a Hagen Danner offering 420 feet to center field in the eighth. Wood has had a blistering start to the season, batting .441 (15-for-34) with six doubles in addition to Thursday's long balls, and his 9:7 BB:K is an outstanding sign that the improved plate discipline he showed in spring training wasn't a mirage. Whether the Nationals want to promote Wood so soon is another question, but he may not be giving the organization much choice in the matter.
The 21-year-old took Ricky Tiedemann deep in the third inning and then missed his chance to hit for the cycle by crushing a Hagen Danner offering 420 feet to center field in the eighth. Wood has had a blistering start to the season, batting .441 (15-for-34) with six doubles in addition to Thursday's long balls, and his 9:7 BB:K is an outstanding sign that the improved plate discipline he showed in spring training wasn't a mirage. Whether the Nationals want to promote Wood so soon is another question, but he may not be giving the organization much choice in the matter.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Debut possible in 2024
Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com believes there's a strong chance Wood makes his MLB debut in 2024.
ANALYSIS
Wood received an early promotion to the Double-A level in 2023 and initially struggled at Harrisburg, but he came alive over the final few months of the season with an .878 OPS in his last 50 games. The 21-year-old isn't likely to begin 2024 with the big-league club, but a strong showing early in the campaign could have him up in the majors before long.
Wood received an early promotion to the Double-A level in 2023 and initially struggled at Harrisburg, but he came alive over the final few months of the season with an .878 OPS in his last 50 games. The 21-year-old isn't likely to begin 2024 with the big-league club, but a strong showing early in the campaign could have him up in the majors before long.
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Wood could go down as the best player the Nationals received from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade. His massive frame (6-foot-7, 240 pounds) and propensity to strike out as an amateur led to long-term hit tool concerns entering the year. However, Wood's 20.7 K% and 14.3 BB% as a 19-year-old at Single-A have tabled any plate skill concerns for the time being. He uses the whole field and does a good job squaring the ball up (31.0 Hard%), and there's little debate he will be a big-time slugger at peak. In addition to monitoring Wood's hit tool as he faces better pitching, the way his plus speed ages will be something to track, as it's quite easy to envision him filling out to the point that he is more of a 10-to-15 steal threat early on in the majors. Wood plays center field now, but that's another aspect of his game he might outgrow. He is on track to reach the majors in 2024 or 2025, depending on how well he handles upper-level pitching.
More Fantasy News
Starting season at Triple-A
Wood will begin the season with Triple-A Rochester, Bobby Blanco of MASN Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
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Reassigned to minor-league camp
The Nationals reassigned Wood to minor-league camp Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Pops game-tying homer
Wood hit an opposite-field, game-tying home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League win over the Twins.
ANALYSIS
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Available Sunday
Wood (wrist) is expected to make an appearance off the bench in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Scratched due to hit wrist
Manager Dave Martinez revealed that Wood was scratched from Saturday's game against the Cardinals after his bat handle hit his right wrist on a check-swing Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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