James Wood gets called up by Nationals after being the No. 6 prospect and key player in Juan Soto trade

The Washington Nationals have called up outfield prospect James Wood from Triple-A to make his MLB debut against the New York Mets. Wood has had a strong season in Triple-A, batting .346 with 10 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. The 21-year-old was drafted in the second round of the 2021 draft and was the key player 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.

Coming into the season, Wood was ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the minors by CBS Sports. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, 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 make room for Wood on the Nationals’ rosters.