More preseason accolades and recognition is in for one of the Washington Nationals' best players ahead of the 2026 season.
The Washington Nationals will enter the 2026 season behind its young core leading the way while the pitching irons itself out with Cade Cavalli likely entering Opening Day as the team's ace in the rotation. But the Nationals will also look to watch its young core take the next step with hopes that the next wave of talent can show tangible signs of progress during the rebuild.
After parting ways with starter MacKenzie Gore in exchange for five prospects, including one who can make an impact in 2025 in Abimelec Ortiz, a candidate to take over at first at some point in the same, part of the next wave is seeing which of the young pieces are able to make their contributions. But the Nationals also know what they have in left fielder James Wood, viewed as a player on the rise within the organization. That label can also be placed on Wood as one of the emerging talent across baseball after being named one of 18 players who are on the rise ahead of the upcoming 2026 season.
Weeks after climbing 45 spots to the 53rd best player ahead of 2026, per MLB Network, left fielder James Wood earned the nod as one of those players, per Brian Murphy of MLB.com. Murphy noted Wood's debut in the top 100 ahead of the 2025 season after appearing in 79 games during his first season with the organization before he nearly doubled his hit production after 78 hits in 2024 then 153 in 2025 across 157 games.
Wood is also one of three players, including one of two outfielders in the National League, to record 30 home runs, 35 doubles and 15 stolen bases this season.
Per Murphy, Wood materialized as only the third player in franchise history to clear the 30-homer plateau in his age-22 season or younger. The only other Nationals or Expos players to achieve that were Bryce Harper (2015) and Juan Soto (2019). Wood paired that power with some speed, stealing 15 bases. Only four other players in franchise history have produced a 30-15 season: Alfonso Soriano (2006), Vladimir Guerrero Sr. (2001 and 2002) and Andre Dawson (1983). Wood also led all NL outfielders with 15 home runs hit at more than 110 miles per hour, a testament to just how powerful of a hitter he is despite heading into his third season with the club.
While Wood also made his first career appearance in both the All Star game and Home Run Derby, the next step for Wood is improving as a defender after ending the 2025 slate ranked 29th among 33 qualified left fielders with an OAA of -8.