"In his first full major league season, the towering 6-foot-7, 234-pound Wood played 157 games and hit .256 with a .825 OPS, 31 home runs, 38 doubles and 94 RBIs. He paired that raw power with impressive speed and athleticism, stealing 15 bases and becoming one of just 11 players in baseball to post a 30-homer, 15-steal season in 2025."
"Beneath the strong surface-level numbers, the underlying metrics paint an even rosier picture. Wood's Statcast profile ranked near the top of the league across several categories, including expected slugging, expected wOBA, average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, barrel rate, bat speed and walk rate. When he made contact, the ball consistently came off his bat as hard as almost anyone in baseball."
"Wood showcased that ability immediately. In his first Major League plate appearance in July of 2024, Wood lined a 106.7 mph single to the opposite field. Five days later, he hit his first career home run. By 2025, opposite-field power had become a defining part of his game, helping him earn an All-Star selection and a Home Run Derby appearance."
James Wood produced a breakout 2025 season, appearing in 157 games with a .256 average, .825 OPS, 31 home runs, 38 doubles and 94 RBIs. He combined raw power with speed, stealing 15 bases and joining 11 players to record a 30-homer, 15-steal season while finishing with a 3.3 bWAR and Silver Slugger finalist recognition. Statcast metrics placed him near the top in expected slugging, expected wOBA, average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, barrel rate, bat speed and walk rate. He demonstrated opposite-field power, earned an All-Star nod and competed in the Home Run Derby. MLB Network ranked him No. 53 in 2026.
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