The Washington Nationals are set to debut outfield prospect James Wood in the majors against the New York Mets. The 21-year-old has had an impressive season in Triple-A, where he batted .346 with 10 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. Wood was drafted in the second round of the 2021 draft and played a key role in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres.
Wood joins other members from that trade, including MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams, on the Nationals roster. Prior to his call-up, Wood was ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the minors by CBS Sports. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 240 pounds, Wood has impressive raw power with potential to become a top slugger in baseball. However, his high strikeout rate is a concern, as he struck out in nearly 34% of his plate appearances in Double-A. Despite this, his on-base and slugging potential make him a productive player and there is a chance for superstar upside if he can lower his strikeout rate before reaching the majors.
In order to make room for Wood on their roster, Eddie Rosario was designated for assignment. With this addition to their lineup, the Nationals are looking forward to seeing what impact Wood can have on their offense against the Mets.
