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WASHINGTON – Washington Nationals' young outfielder James Wood will officially participate in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby 2025, bringing his impressive offensive power to one of the most anticipated competitions of the summer. The event will be held on July 14 at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.
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At 22 years old and in his first full season in the Major Leagues, Wood has made his mark with 22 home runs, placing him as the leader among National League outfielders and fifth in the circuit. He made the announcement himself through his Instagram account. Wood joins a luxury lineup at the Derby, which already includes names like "Cal Raleigh" and the Venezuelan "Ronald Acuña Jr." Nationals manager Dave Martinez did not hide his enthusiasm: "Would I like to see him do it? Yes. But if he does, I want him to win." Beyond the quantity, Wood's power impresses with its quality. He is in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, 97th percentile in average exit velocity, and 97th percentile in barrel rate. Only Shohei Ohtani surpasses him in home runs with a speed exceeding 110 mph, and he has already hit two home runs of 451 feet, the most recent at Dodger Stadium, being the longest in that stadium this season. The left-handed pitcher was acquired by Washington in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres in 2022, and since his debut on July 1, 2024, he has played 165 consecutive games with the capital team. Wood aims to become the third player in Nationals history to win the Home Run Derby, following Bryce Harper (2018) and Juan Soto (2022). "It's an honor to be invited and an emotion for the fans who see him daily," concluded Martinez. “He's going to put on a show”. The Home Run Derby will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET.
