James Wood does a little shimmy after notching his first major league hit in the second inning of Monday's 9-7 Nationals' loss to the Mets. Singles in his first at-bat, works a walk during 10th-inning rally.Here’s what the hype looked like Monday night at Nationals Park: A 6-foot-7, 21-year-old outfielder jogging out to left field in the first inning, not exactly wide-eyed, but with a wide smile as he took in the moment on a pristine night for baseball.
Even as the Nationals’ new generation had arrived, old baseball rituals were followed. Moments after the hit, the Nationals’ dugout called for the baseball. If Wood, from nearby Olney, Md., plays anywhere near up to what some expect, his career will include more than one baseball to note his accomplishments.
So Wood arrived with the Nationals in 2022 as part of a hazy dream not yet realized. To that point, Wood had only 81 minor league games to his name. He hadn’t played above Class A. And yet he was one of a handful of players tasked with the burden of having to living up to being the return for Soto.Slowly, those players have made their way to D.C. First was CJ Abrams, a shy, skinny shortstop who debuted that September and now, at 23, has blossomed into the team’s most dynamic offensive player.
It wasn’t a stretch to say that Wood’s debut was the most anticipated debut by a National since Harper made his first career start at Dodger Stadium back in 2011.His first swing of batting practice — a missile that hit the red seats in deep center — only added more fuel to that belief. But if that wasn’t enough, his highlights were shown on the big screen for nearly an hour before game time.
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