Nationals slugger James Wood is headed to the Home Run Derby

Washington Post

a day ago

Asked about the premise of participating in the Home Run Derby a month ago, James Wood broke into a sly smile that suggested, yeah, he might be interested. He just had to wait for the invite first.
This week, he got it. And on Thursday, the Washington Nationals 22-year-old slugger announced via an Instagram post that he would participate in the Derby, which is set for July 14 in Atlanta.
Wood's 22 home runs entering Thursday are the seventh most in MLB, and his 12 home runs hit at least 110 mph trails only Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Wood is set to become the third National to participate in the Home Run Derby. The other two — Juan Soto in 2022 and Bryce Harper in 2018 — won it. (Harper also participated in 2013.) If Wood can follow suit, he'd be the youngest-ever Derby champion.
He joins Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. as the participants who have been named thus far. MLB has not yet announced the entire eight-player field.
Teammates had gossiped about Wood's potential ability to take over the Home Run Derby for over a month now, with the initial calls coming out in late May when he hit a ball high off the batter's eye in center field at T-Mobile Park, an estimated 448 feet. Their rationale was clear: His swing is easy, and his muscles are youthful, creating a blend of power and skill that should generate plenty of home runs at Truist Park.
As far as raw power is concerned, few can match Wood's ability at the plate. He leads MLB with four home runs that traveled longer than 445 feet. He is one of just six players with at least six home runs to the opposite field this season. On Washington's last road trip, in an effort to avoid that power, the Los Angeles Angels intentionally walked Wood four times in one game. It was the first time a player had been given that many intentional free passes since Barry Bonds in 2004.
The prize for winning — $1 million — is larger than the 22-year-old's annual salary.