Author Topic: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF  (Read 15770 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Online imref

  • Moderator
  • ***
  • Posts: 42522
  • Re-contending in 202...5?
Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Topic Start: August 02, 2022, 04:10:09 PM »
Positions: Centerfielder, Left fielder and Right fielder
Bats: Left  •  Throws: Right
6-7, 240lb (201cm, 108kg)
Team: San Diego Padres (minors)
Born: September 17, 2002 (Age: 19-319d) in Rockville, MD us
Draft: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 2nd round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft from IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL).
High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
Full Name: James Irvin Wood

MILB:
Quote
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Wood entered the summer of 2020 as a relatively under-the-radar athletic outfielder who had moved from his home in Maryland to attend IMG Academy to focus on baseball. The former two-sport standout (basketball) had a strong summer on the showcase circuit, putting him firmly on the radar as a toolsy prospect with tremendous upside. Some struggles in the spring dampened his stock prior to the 2021 Draft, but it wasn’t enough to deter the Padres, who selected Wood in the second round and inked him to a $2.6 million bonus, more than double the slot value for the 62nd overall pick. He got off to a fast start in his professional debut, slashing .372/.465/.535 with eight extra-base hits over 26 games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

Wood comes from an athletic family -- his father played professional basketball in Europe, and his sister is a captain on the Northwestern University women’s basketball team -- and his own athleticism is apparent in all aspects of his game. He generates plus raw power from his 6-foot-7, 240-pound frame, though he’s still learning how to fully tap into that power in games. Wood sees the ball and has good bat-to-ball skills but could improve his aggressiveness early in counts, when he’s more likely to get a pitch he’s able to drive.

A plus runner, Wood maximizes his speed with his instincts. On the bases, he was a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts in 2021. Defensively, he exceeded expectations with his range and ability to track down balls in the gaps. While his accuracy was a bit inconsistent in ‘21, Wood has a strong arm that could profile well in right field if he outgrows center. Couple that with his potential to hit 30 homers a year and it’s easy to see why some Padres officials feel Wood may have the highest ceiling in the entire organization.

BB America - March 2022 update: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/padres-begin-to-tap-into-james-woods-immense-talent/
Quote
High school outfielder James Wood had underperformed to the point that he had played himself out of the first round of the 2021 draft—but not off the Padres’ radar.

That would have been tough to do, given that Wood is 6-foot-7, 240 pounds and owns a powerful lefthanded bat.

The Padres signed Wood for $2.6 million in the second round out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He got top 30 pick money as the 62nd overall pick.

To begin to tap into the 19-year-old Wood's raw athleticism, the Padres continued with some swing change work that Wood and the IMG Academy coaching staff had toyed with at the end of his senior year.

They widened his stance, positioning him a bit more upright in the batters’ box. They changed his hand positioning, too, to create a little bit more space and a more direct path to the baseball.

The result: Wood hit .372/.465/.535 with three homers in 26 games in the Arizona Complex League. His strikeout rate bordered on 32%, but he was selected with a walk rate of nearly 13%.

Wood also stole 10 bases in 10 tries and showed a quick first step and enough range for the Padres to continue to play him in center field despite his unconventional size.


Online imref

  • Moderator
  • ***
  • Posts: 42522
  • Re-contending in 202...5?
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #1: August 02, 2022, 04:12:01 PM »
https://www.milb.com/player/james-wood-695578

.337   .453   .601, 10HR, 15SB in A ball, 50 games / 193 PAs, 42 Ks, 37 BBs

Offline RD

  • Posts: 1618
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #2: August 02, 2022, 04:19:06 PM »
Absolutely love the upside of this kid. I actually like Abrams and Hassell a lot, but I think Wood and Susana may be the biggest impact guys from this trade when all is said and done.

All the natural ability in the world, and is showing plate discipline and the ability to make contact at such a young age.

Hes listed at 240, but I read he lost a good 20lbs thus off season. He looks rail thin right now. I'm sure he'll pack that 20 back on with more muscle in the coming years since he's just 19.

Not even counting Hassell, but 3 teenage OF's like Wood, Vaquero, and Green is definitely something to dream on.

Online imref

  • Moderator
  • ***
  • Posts: 42522
  • Re-contending in 202...5?
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #3: August 03, 2022, 08:51:34 AM »
Assigned to Fredericksburg

Online Natsinpwc

  • Posts: 25688
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #4: August 03, 2022, 08:56:41 AM »

Online imref

  • Moderator
  • ***
  • Posts: 42522
  • Re-contending in 202...5?
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #5: August 03, 2022, 10:51:25 AM »
Padre fans keep comparing Wood to Aaron Judge for what its worth

Online Five Banners

  • Posts: 2240
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #6: August 03, 2022, 10:58:58 AM »
Padre fans keep comparing Wood to Aaron Judge for what its worth

 So Wood went on the record saying he wants to be a Yankee for life?

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

  • Global Moderator
  • ****
  • Posts: 39408
  • Platoon - not just a movie, a baseball obsession
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #7: August 03, 2022, 11:17:30 AM »
Padre fans keep comparing Wood to Aaron Judge for what its worth
So, instead of Judge's Court area where everyone dresses up like judge's, will Nats Park have The Forest for Wood fans?  Maybe get a lumber yard as a sponsor?  "Yella Lot For Wood"  People can show up dressed like trees.

Online imref

  • Moderator
  • ***
  • Posts: 42522
  • Re-contending in 202...5?
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #8: August 03, 2022, 11:31:01 AM »
So, instead of Judge's Court area where everyone dresses up like judge's, will Nats Park have The Forest for Wood fans?  Maybe get a lumber yard as a sponsor?  "Yella Lot For Wood"  People can show up dressed like trees.

what kind of drugs is MDS sending you? :)

Online Slateman

  • Posts: 63104
  • THE SUMMONER OF THE REVERSE JINX
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #9: August 03, 2022, 12:14:33 PM »
Would be cool if House comes back this year and we get yo see them both

Online imref

  • Moderator
  • ***
  • Posts: 42522
  • Re-contending in 202...5?
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #10: August 04, 2022, 10:03:59 PM »
Fredricksburg debut tomorrow



Offline JCA-CrystalCity

  • Global Moderator
  • ****
  • Posts: 39408
  • Platoon - not just a movie, a baseball obsession
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #13: August 06, 2022, 10:08:30 AM »


Offline JCA-CrystalCity

  • Global Moderator
  • ****
  • Posts: 39408
  • Platoon - not just a movie, a baseball obsession
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #15: August 06, 2022, 11:33:08 AM »
https://twitter.com/Nats_PlayerDev/status/1555923033633824770?s=20&t=YOxHZVWIWQimTwqyQk_ALQ
maybe because it is spread over 6' 7", but he looked a lot more rail-like than I expected for somebody who is 240 pounds.  If he fills out closer to Judge than Dunn he shouldn't be too  bulky and lose speed.

Online Smithian

  • Posts: 11499
  • Sunshine Squad 2022
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #16: August 06, 2022, 12:04:42 PM »
Call him up (to Wilmington)! :whip:

Offline DCsOwn

  • Posts: 599
  • Another New Hope
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #17: August 06, 2022, 12:38:32 PM »
maybe because it is spread over 6' 7", but he looked a lot more rail-like than I expected for somebody who is 240 pounds.  If he fills out closer to Judge than Dunn he shouldn't be too  bulky and lose speed.

Agreed. Important to remember that he’s still a teen lol. I don’t expect him to add too much in terms of additional weight going forward (perhaps another 5-10 pounds) but his body is going to change quite a bit in terms of weight distribution/definition. At the end of this yellow brick road is a monster.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FZQUhcaXEAAoygT?format=jpg&name=medium

Btw, Green is a physical beast right now and Wood makes him look like a normal sized prospect when they’re standing next to each other.

Not that this counts for much (at least not at the moment), but it’s not an exaggeration to state that the Nats have the toolsiest outfield prospects of any organization in baseball. Wood, Green and Vaquero are rare physical specimens with truly, truly exalted ceilings.

Offline RD

  • Posts: 1618
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #18: August 06, 2022, 01:35:02 PM »
maybe because it is spread over 6' 7", but he looked a lot more rail-like than I expected for somebody who is 240 pounds.  If he fills out closer to Judge than Dunn he shouldn't be too  bulky and lose speed.

I saw a bomb he hit while with SD and thought the same. I read that he dropped 20 pounds or so this off season, so I'm assuming he is more on the 210-220 range currently. Definitely more of a Oneil Cruz frame than Judge at this point. Being 19, and showing power already .... hes going to gain some of that weight back with muscle, making the potential power off the charts. Definitely excited for the future.

Online Natsinpwc

  • Posts: 25688
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #19: August 06, 2022, 03:23:27 PM »
Call him up (to Wilmington)! :whip:
Yup. He should get a few weeks in High A ball.

Online Slateman

  • Posts: 63104
  • THE SUMMONER OF THE REVERSE JINX
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #20: August 06, 2022, 06:59:45 PM »
0-4 tonight

Offline RD

  • Posts: 1618

Offline GataNats

  • Posts: 1164
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #22: August 06, 2022, 10:55:11 PM »
Agreed. Important to remember that he’s still a teen lol. I don’t expect him to add too much in terms of additional weight going forward (perhaps another 5-10 pounds) but his body is going to change quite a bit in terms of weight distribution/definition. At the end of this yellow brick road is a monster.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FZQUhcaXEAAoygT?format=jpg&name=medium

Btw, Green is a physical beast right now and Wood makes him look like a normal sized prospect when they’re standing next to each other.

Not that this counts for much (at least not at the moment), but it’s not an exaggeration to state that the Nats have the toolsiest outfield prospects of any organization in baseball. Wood, Green and Vaquero are rare physical specimens with truly, truly exalted ceilings.

Hasell is by far the best prospect of those three.


Offline Kevrock

  • Posts: 13788
  • That’s gonna be a no from me, doge.
Re: Follow the Prospects: James Wood, OF
« Reply #24: August 09, 2022, 07:52:57 PM »
Great looking swing.