James Wood earned major national recognition recently after his breakout 2025 season.
MLB Network ranked the Nationals outfielder as the No. 53 player in baseball on its “Top 100 Players Right Now” list for 2026. The Rockville, Maryland native, acquired from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade, climbed 45 spots from No. 98 on last year’s list.
james on the move 📈 pic.twitter.com/mWpZdpYlip
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) January 16, 2026
That rise puts Wood just one spot behind Reds star Elly De La Cruz.
In his first full major league season, the towering 6-foot-7, 234-pound Wood played 157 games and hit .256 with a .825 OPS, 31 home runs, 38 doubles and 94 RBIs. He paired that raw power with impressive speed and athleticism, stealing 15 bases and becoming one of just 11 players in baseball to post a 30-homer, 15-steal season in 2025. He also finished with a 3.3 bWAR, ranked top 10 in the National League in home runs and top five in doubles, and earned Silver Slugger finalist honors.
James Wood jumped 45 spots on this year's #Top100RightNow 🤯@AlexAvilaMLB breaks down why he thinks the young @Nationals slugger only scratched the surface in 2025. pic.twitter.com/YChMmLeYpo
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 16, 2026
Beneath the strong surface-level numbers, the underlying metrics paint an even rosier picture. Wood’s Statcast profile ranked near the top of the league across several categories, including expected slugging, expected wOBA, average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, barrel rate, bat speed and walk rate. When he made contact, the ball consistently came off his bat as hard as almost anyone in baseball.
Wood showcased that ability immediately. In his first Major League plate appearance in July of 2024, Wood lined a 106.7 mph single to the opposite field. Five days later, he hit his first career home run. By 2025, opposite-field power had become a defining part of his game, helping him earn an All-Star selection and a Home Run Derby appearance.
Wood delivered several signature moments during the season, including a two-run walk-off home run against the Rockies that snapped an 11-game losing streak and ranked among the most memorable wins of the year.
WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT pic.twitter.com/mJmYlHpSta
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 19, 2025
However, his season was not without flaws. After a dominant first half, pitchers adjusted and the strikeouts piled up. Wood finished 2025 with 221 strikeouts, the most in the MLB, and both his whiff and strikeout rates ranked near the bottom of the league. His production dipped after the All-Star break, and his defense in left field remained inconsistent.
That swing-and-miss issue is the main thing separating Wood from the next tier of hitters. His elite power and his patience at the plate already stand out. He drew walks at a high rate and consistently worked deep counts. If he can make more contact and tighten his approach with two strikes, his offensive profile becomes even more dangerous.
That is where 2026 comes into focus. The Nationals overhauled their coaching and hitting staff this offseason with an emphasis on analytics and development. If the new group can help Wood cut down on strikeouts without sacrificing power, this would clear his path to take a significant step forward after just one full major league season.
MLB Network’s ranking reflects the view of Wood around the league. He is no longer a rising star or a high-upside young player. At just 23 years old, he has already emerged as a top-55 player in baseball and firmly established himself as a star.
And if the strikeouts come down even slightly, Wood may not stay in the 50s for long.