The Washington Nationals have brought up outfield prospect James Wood from Triple-A to make his MLB debut against the New York Mets. Wood has had a standout season in Triple-A, batting .346 with 10 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. The 21-year-old was selected in the second round of the 2021 draft and was the main player involved in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres. Wood joins other members of that trade, such as MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams, on the Nationals roster.
Wood was ranked sixth best prospect in the minors by CBS Sports before the season began. Standing at 6 feet and 6 inches tall, Wood has impressive raw power with the 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. Eddie Rosario was designated for assignment to create space for Wood on the Nationals’ rosters.