Wood's Breakout Season: 44th Best MLB Player

0:00You're listening to Washington Nationals News today. Subscribe now for fast daily updates on your team. James Wood built his baseball career, starting as a two-sport star in Washington, D.C., high schools, playing basketball, and baseball. He later moved to IMG Academy to focus solely on the diamond, becoming a top prospect for the 2021 MLB draft. The San Diego Padres took him in the second round, but he soon landed with the Washington Nationals in a blockbuster trade for Juan Soto and Josh. Bell would made his big lead debut in July of 2024 and held his own right away. His breakout came in the 2025 season, across 157 games, where he batted 0.256 with a 0.35. Zero on-base percentage and 0.475 slugging. That included 38 doubles, 31 home runs, 94 runs batted in, and 15 stolen bases. In fans, see huge upside in the young outfielder as he enters his next full year.

1:02His all-fields power draws comparisons to sluggers, like Ryan Howard and Freddie Freeman, and he's still refining his game at just 23 years. Old. ESPN now ranks wood as the 44th best player in all of Major League Baseball. Expert Kylie McDaniel expects this to be his strongest offensive campaign yet. Diego projects 41 home runs, building on last year's mark where 26 of his 31 went up the middle or to the opposite field. To hit that total, wood will need to lower his ground ball rate and tap even more pullside pop. D&N is brought to you by our sponsor link in the description. When you want calm, do not reach for your phone, lay back and listen.