"No one can deny the star power of James Wood. He cemented himself as a top prospect in the league. After a solid debut in Washington last year, he emerged as an All-Star and Home Run Derby participant. But throughout the second half of this season, Wood hasn't carried the lineup in the way he did in the first half."
"Frankly, that's still true. Heading into the All-Star break, Wood had already hit 24 home runs and was among the most productive and fearsome hitters in the entire National League. He can hit the ball as far and with as much authority as anyone in the sport. He ranks in at least the 94th percentile of all hitters in average exit velocity, hard hit rate, bat speed and barrel rate."
"The biggest concern by far is his strikeout rate. It was a struggle for him in the first half, but it's been worse than anyone could've imagined most recently. He's averaging close to two strikeouts per game since the All-Star break, and it's led to him being likely to break the all-time strikeout record. James Wood goes 0-5 with 4 Ks in the afternoon game to get to 209 strikeouts with 11 games to play. https://t.co/MXSn3sf61N- Talk Nats (@TalkNats) September 16, 2025"
James Wood entered the season as a top prospect with prodigious power, an All-Star selection, and a Home Run Derby appearance. He recorded 24 home runs by the All-Star break and ranked in at least the 94th percentile in average exit velocity, hard hit rate, bat speed, and barrel rate. The second half saw a steep decline: Wood hit .218 with three home runs in 54 games while remaining roughly top 20 percent in batting run value for the season. His strikeout rate surged to nearly two per game since the break, placing him on pace for an all-time strikeout mark. Daylen Lile has emerged as the team's most consistent hitter over the last couple months, prompting fan debate about whether Lile has been a better hitter than Wood recently.
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