The third participant of this year’s Home Run Derby has been revealed.
Washington Nationals slugger James Wood is joining Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr., for the event on July 14 at the Braves’ Truist Park.
Wood, 22, is fifth in the National League with 22 home runs on the season and tied for sixth in slugging percentage at .547.
The Rockville, Md., native brings top-end power to the Derby, ranking in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate and 97th percentile in average exit velocity, per Baseball Savant.
He’ll join Juan Soto and Bryce Harper as the only Nationals to participate in the Home Run Derby. Both of his predecessors have victories to their name.
Through 162 career games, Wood’s 31 dingers match Soto and Harper for the most in franchise history.