Nationals’ Wood builds All-Star case as Washington’s quiet star

Nationals outfielder James Wood is a star.

Now 365 days removed from his highly anticipated MLB debut, the Maryland native is slugging his way through the MLB leaderboards in his first full season as a big leaguer.

The nation’s All-Star voters haven’t caught up. 

Despite ranking second among National League outfielders in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage, Wood was not one of the five finalists already named to the NL All-Star roster. 

The top six vote-getters advanced to another round of ballots on Monday to determine the starting lineup. 

Big market teams dominated the All-Star race. Eight of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ nine starters made the shortlists, including two of the six outfield spots, to the dismay of Nationals fans. 

The inclusion of Dodgers slugger Teoscar Hernandez, who trails Wood in every batting category, drew particular criticism. Los Angeles’ outfielder garnered 1 million more votes than Wood. 

Washington’s rising star will likely make the roster in some capacity, as MLB rules mandate at least one representative from each team. 

The average fan filling out an All-Star ballot might not see Wood’s breakout season, but opposing teams have started to take notice. 

After Wood scorched a base hit into the outfield in the first inning of Sunday’s game, the Los Angeles Angels started to intentionally walk the 22-year-old. Then they did it again. And again. And again.

“Why not?” Former MLB manager Joe Maddon said on MLB Network of the Angels’ approach to Wood. “For me, it doesn’t even have to be first base being open. When a guy is that good and that hot, even if second base is open, walk him.” 

Wood became the first player since Barry Bonds to record four intentional walks in a game. That’s impressive company for the youngster. 

“That’s pretty cool,” Wood said after the Nationals went on to win in extra innings. “If you’re being put in the same sentence as [Bonds], then that’s pretty cool.”

The left fielder now ranks fourth in MLB in intentional walks, trailing MVP candidates Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. 

“It stinks because I like to watch him hit, but it’s pretty crazy that they’re already taking those measures against him,” Nationals outfielder Jacob Young says. “He’s carried our offense for a lot of the year and it’s special when he’s up there.”

Wood should get used to the lofty comparisons. Through his first 162 games, Wood slugged 31 home runs to tie four-time All-Star Juan Soto and two-time MVP Bryce Harper for the most in Nationals history. 

Washington’s rising star is destroying baseballs. Wood has had 52 batted balls that reached an exit velocity of 108 mph. Judge, the reigning AL MVP with the New York Yankees, is second with 48. 

Twelve of Wood’s 22 home runs have screamed into the outfield stands at speeds of 112 mph, tied with Ohtani for the most in the majors.

And Wood does it every day. 

The former first-round pick has played 163 consecutive games to start his career, the sixth-longest mark in MLB’s expansion era. His games-played mark trails only a pair of first basemen — Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves and Pete Alonso of the New York Mets — for the longest active streak. 

The rest of Washington’s lineup remains an issue. The Nationals (35-49) rank 18th in the majors in home runs, 20th in batting average and 19th in slugging percentage. 

But Wood has become appointment viewing. Rumors of a potential Home Run Derby appearance have grown in recent weeks. 

“I mean, it’s been brought up,” he told the Washington Post last week. “But I mean, I don’t know. We’ll see. That’d be cool if I’m invited. So let’s try to get that first.”

Washington has gone 5-5 in their last 10 games following an 11-game losing streak. The Nationals find themselves 14 games back of the NL East-leading Phillies with 12 games remaining until the All-Star break.

Washington returns home for a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers (53-32) that begins on Tuesday.