Nationals' James Wood to Compete in 2025 MLB HR Derby, Joins Acuna, Raleigh in Field

Washington Nationals star James Wood is the third confirmed participant in the 2025 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.

Wood announced his participation in the event with a post on Instagram.

Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves and Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners were already committed to participate in the Home Run Derby.

Wood is having a terrific season for the Nationals and could end up being selected to the NL All-Star team when the reserves are announced on Sunday.

A second-round draft pick by the San Diego Padres in 2021, Wood was traded to Washington in August 2022 as part of the Juan Soto deal.

The Nationals promoted Wood to the big leagues in July 2023. He hit .264/.354/.427 with nine homers and 14 stolen bases in 79 games as a rookie.

Among 24 rookies with at least 300 plate appearances last season, Wood's .342 weighted on-base average ranked fourth.

Wood has taken a significant leap forward in 2025. The 22-year-old has a .283/.387/.547 slash line with 22 homers and 12 RBI in 86 games. He ranks seventh in home runs, 10th in slugging percentage and 10th in isolated power.

Advanced metrics paint an even stronger picture of how impressive Wood's power output has been this season. He ranks in the 96th percentile or better in expected slugging percentage, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage and bat speed.

Wood will look to become the third Nationals player to win the Home Run Derby. Soto won in 2022, three weeks before he was traded, and Bryce Harper won in 2018 when the event was held at Nationals Park.

The 2025 Home Run Derby will take place on July 14 at Truist Park in Atlanta.