Wood living up to hype in Nats' farm system
This browser does not support the video element.
WASHINGTON -- The Nationals' top prospect is posting some top numbers.
Center fielder James Wood, who also is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 15 overall prospect, entered Sunday hitting .526 (10-for-19) in his last five games with the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. This stretch includes one double, one triple, one homer, three runs, seven RBIs, one walk and one stolen base.
Through Saturday, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound outfielder ranked first in RBIs (10), second in batting average (.393) and slugging percentage (.607) and third in OPS (.982) in the Nats' Minor League system.
Wood was a headliner in the Aug. 2 Juan Soto megadeal with the Padres last season, and he quickly rose to the top of Washington’s prospect rankings. Only 20 years old, Wood is poised to be a key member of the Nationals' future.
This browser does not support the video element.
“I’m pretty good at staying in the present, in general,” Wood said during Spring Training. “I think a lot of people can get caught up in the future, but I think I kind of realized that I don’t really have the privilege to worry about any of that until I get there. So I've got to keep working and all that, just keep grinding and hopefully get there pretty soon.”
Triple-A Rochester
Entering Sunday, second baseman Darren Baker has collected six multihit games. In his last five games, he batted .542 with a double, a triple, a home run, five runs and three RBIs. Baker also stole a pair of bases in that stretch.
This browser does not support the video element.
Double-A Harrisburg
Shortstop Leonel Valera has recorded an extra-base hit (two doubles, one triple) in each of his past three games. Valera was in Spring Training with the Nationals, and he made an impression with his speed on the bases.
This browser does not support the video element.
High-A Wilmington
Reliever Tyler Schoff has earned a win in his last two appearances. The right-hander has not allowed a run in five innings pitched this season.
This browser does not support the video element.
Single-A Fredericksburg
Third baseman Brady House leads the Nationals' Minor League system in slugging percentage (.833) and OPS (1.333). The team's No. 5 prospect reached base safely three times in back-to-back games