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As a fantasy baseball prospect, James Wood checks about every box for prospective fantasy managers. The Washington Nationals' top prospect is tearing up Triple-A this year in Rochester, interrupted only by an injured list stint with a hamstring injury. Wood is back in the Rochester lineup and hit a home run in the third of his four games since returning.
"James Wood is healthy, and he is back in a big way!"
The top @Nationals prospect (MLB No. 4) crushes his first homer since coming off the injured list for the Triple-A @RocRedWings: pic.twitter.com/xkk5Ksp4Ze
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 23, 2024
The 21-year-old has power to spare and is hitting .348 this season. At 6-foot-7 and 234 pounds, that might not be surprising, but his speed for his size might be. He has 10 stolen bases this season.
There is so much to like about Wood's fantasy profile, making him a priority stash ahead of his call-up to the major leagues.
How High Is James Wood's Fantasy Potential?
The raw power and a sprinkle of speed make Wood an intriguing waiver-wire addition as speculation of his promotion continues to grow. He should immediately contribute to the power categories and figures to hit for a decent average. Wood has so much fantasy potential that he is ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in baseball behind only Jackson Holliday, Paul Skenes, and Junior Caminero. Holliday and Caminero are mega-prospects and the baseball world has seen what Skenes can do.
If you’re looking for the best season so far from an elite prospect, James Wood truly stands out.
He’s hitting for average, he’s getting on base, he’s hitting for power and he’s stealing bases ...
(🎥 @RocRedWings)pic.twitter.com/hFuy07RRKd
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 21, 2024
There have been plenty of cautionary tales of prospects struggling out of the gate this year, including the mega-prospect Holliday himself. But Wood has the tools to reward forward-thinking fantasy managers upon his call. How much he helps fantasy teams this season may come down to how much time he gets in the big leagues.
When Might James Wood Get A Major-League Opportunity?
Prior to his hamstring setback, Wood was building momentum and a case for a call-up. Now back in the Triple-A lineup, his next step might simply be proving that he is back to full health. Washington may want to give the slugger some reps in Rochester before they are 100 percent comfortable giving him his MLB debut.
It should be noted that Wood is not completely without flaws. He can likely improve his strikeout rate for one thing. But if he proves he is healthy over an extended period, there is no reason he shouldn't be in the Nationals' lineup soon. That could be a terrifying proposition for big-league pitchers and an equally exciting one for fantasy managers.
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