Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF

[imref]

Wendy's player of the week.

[DCsOwn]

https://x.com/_mcameron44/status/1780211755618079061

Early morning Mike Cameron praise for Wood.

[imref]

I understand that the team was off yesterday, but even with that Wood didn't get any hits. He's a bust.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://x.com/_mcameron44/status/1780211755618079061

Early morning Mike Cameron praise for Wood.

Cameron should take a liking to Wood, but Wood can be a lot more if he can get the Ks under control.

[welch]

Baseball America lists Wood as its number 3 Hot Prospect today.

Why He’s Here: .385/.484/.731 (10-for-26), 10 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 5 BB, 6 SO, 4-for-5 SB

The Scoop: There’s not much more Wood can do at this point to prove he’s worthy of a callup to the major leagues. Wood had three multi-hit games last week in Rochester’s series at Buffalo. Wood went off on Thursday, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and four balls in play at 106.8 mph or higher. He has double-plus power, on-base skills and is showing improved contact skills dating back to his time with the major league club in spring training. Wood is one of the top prospects in baseball and arguably the most exciting player with an imminent callup in 2024.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

A small part of me wishes he were up for the Houston series. Sort of a passing of the baton.

[imref]

Wood being promoted for that series and Rosario being DFA'd would be a nice gesture to the fans.

[IanRubbish]

Rizzo um's and ah's his way in typical bs fashion when asked about the Wood callup.

[imref]

Gotta give Rosario his 100 at bats to get going I guess?

[imref]

3-7, 2R, 2RBIs, all singles, in the resumption of yesterday's suspended game and today's game so far.

[aspenbubba]

Gotta give Rosario his 100 at bats to get going I guess?

Wasn't he signed mid way thru ST and he historically has a slow April.  He batted .255 with 21 HR's last season. More than Gallo and Senzel and Joey.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Just bring him up. This is getting stupid now.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Just bring him up. This is getting stupid now.

I will be patient until mid-May, but it would be so cool if they had him debut this series. A Rosario hamstring would be timely.

[IanRubbish]

Just bring him up. This is getting stupid now.

According to Rizzo, um, ah, all players are um, brought up, when they're ah, ready.   Or at least when Mini Me won't have a heart attack from seeing their service clock start ticking.

[nobleisthyname]

Coming back down to earth a bit. OPS down to .884 and that's while still running a .400 BABIP. I wish there was more batted ball data for the minor leagues so we could tell how hard he's hitting the ball. Only a .167 ISO suggests he's not getting many barrels.

K rate still holding up (down?) though and that's my main concern with him.

[RD]

He's K'd 7 times in his last 18 AB's. 0 walks in that span.

Let him adjust, bounce back, and then in a month see if he's ready for the promotion. I dont think he'll need until August, but better to learn and make adjustments in the minors right now. Hopefully a quick adjustment.

[Natsinpwc]

He's K'd 7 times in his last 18 AB's. 0 walks in that span.

He’s a bust!  And Crews is in intensive care!  We are doomed. 

[Slateman]

He’s a bust!  And Crews is in intensive care!  We are doomed. 

I mean ... Crews could be for all we now.

[imref]

Wood highlight real tonight:
https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/1782967678350811277

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I wonder if he gets the call if Thomas has to miss significant time.

[aspenbubba]

I wonder if he gets the call if Thomas has to miss significant time.

He wasn't pulled from the lineup last nite in Minnesota

[nobleisthyname]

Wood highlight real tonight:
https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/1782967678350811277

Both of those highlights are crazy.

I think I'm in favor of keeping him in AAA though. His K rate is creeping back up and he's not hitting for much power yet. If the Nats were contending this year that would be different.

[Smithian]

I'm in the "keep him down" group right now. The Nationals aren't competing. Like every player, James Wood will slump. I'll be fine calling him up the first time he works himself out of a AAA slump. That will be real growth.

[IanRubbish]

I'm in the "keep him down" group right now. The Nationals aren't competing. Like every player, James Wood will slump. I'll be fine calling him up the first time he works himself out of a AAA slump. That will be real growth.

There's a confidence factor that's hard to measure and doesn't show up in stats.  Jackson Merrill is just 8 months older than Jackson Holliday, but was clearly far more ready mentally in spite of less impressive AAA stats than Holliday.  Same thing we've seen here with Mitchell Parker.  But being "ready" for a hitter usually means a solid, .800 or so, OPS, with better things to come in season 2 or 3.  The more you wait with someone who is in fact ready, the longer it will take to get to an elite level.

[imref]

MLB pipeline:

Have a day, James Wood!

After notching a hit in G1 of a doubleheader, MLB's No. 13 prospect records a three-hit game and swipes two bases for the
@RocRedWings
.

The
@Nationals
' No. 2 prospect has a slash line of .330/.435/.495 in 23 Triple-A games: