James Wood is a force to be reckoned with in the world of baseball. The 23-year-old slugger for the Washington Nationals has been on an absolute tear this season, and it's only June 13th. With his power and freakish size, Wood has already matched his WAR total from last year, and he's only getting better. What makes Wood so fascinating is his ability to consistently dominate, even after a slow start to the season. He's been hitting .316 with a .996 OPS in his last 30 games, and his barrel rate of 25.3% is the best in the league. This is a huge deal, as a barrel is the best contact a hitter can make, with a batting average in the .700 range and hits that tend to go for extra bases. Wood's power is unmatched, and his ability to find barrels is incredibly valuable in an era where power is king. What's even more impressive is that Wood has been hitting more balls in the air, which means fewer ground balls and more damage. This makes me less concerned about a power drop-off in the second half of the season. Wood's opposite-field power is also a sight to behold, with over half of his home runs going to left center. Nationals fans have been blessed with some of the best left-handed bats of the 21st century, and Wood is certainly on his way to joining that elite group. With a .953 OPS and an xwOBA 25 points lower than his actual OPS, Wood is underperforming, but he's still on track to be one of the game's best. The only way to truly anoint Wood as an elite player is to keep this up for a full season. Patience is key with young players, and Wood has certainly earned it. So, let's sit back, relax, and watch the big man hit.
