1 JAMES WOOD OF
Hitting: 55 Power: 65 Speed: 55 Fielding: 50 Arm: 55 BA Grade: 65 Risk: High
Born: Sept. 17, 2002. B-T: L-R. HT: 6-7. WT: 240.
Drafted: HS—Bradenton, Fla., 2021 (2nd round).
Signed by: John Martin (Padres).
TRACK RECORD: Wood moved away from his hometown in Maryland to attend Florida’s IMG Academy and gain greater exposure on the baseball diamond. A standout in basketball as well as baseball, Wood used his first summer on the showcase circuit to his advantage and emerged as one of the most physically impressive players in the 2021 draft class. Despite Wood’s elevated strikeout totals his senior spring, the Padres saw his plus-plus raw power and huge upside and drafted him 62nd overall in the second round and signed him for an above-slot $2.6 million to sway him from a Mississippi State commitment. The gamble paid off immediately as Wood emerged as one of the best prospects in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League after signing. He continued to impress in his full-season debut with Low-A Lake Elsinore in 2022, hitting .337 with 30 extra-base hits in 50 games despite going on the injured list twice with right wrist soreness. The Nationals acquired Wood, along with shortstop CJ Abrams, outfielder Robert Hassell III, lefthander MacKenzie Gore and righthander Jarlin Susana, in the eight-player trade that sent Juan Soto to San Diego. Wood continued to impress in 21 games with Low-A Fredericksburg to close out the season.
There is no questioning Wood’s athletic ability. His father is Kenny Wood, a former college basketball standout at Richmond, and James was a gifted basketball player before shifting to baseball full-time. At 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, Wood’s athleticism and plus-plus raw power flows easily. He hits enormous home runs to all fields and has the strength, leverage and bat speed to demolish any pitch. He catches up to mid-90s velocity with ease and has the balance and pitch recognition to identify and stay back on secondary stuff. There are still questions surrounding Wood’s high strikeout numbers, but a widened stance and learning to be less aggressive in early counts has helped. Wood’s aggressiveness is still a work in progress, but he is improving. Due to his height, he has a longer bat path than most other players. He makes consistent contact in all
