Wood rewarded for clout as Silver Slugger finalist

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In his first full season in the Major Leagues, James Wood was named a National League outfield finalist for the 2025 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award.

Wood, 23, is in the running with Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Juan Soto (Mets), Kyle Stowers (Marlins) and Kyle Tucker (Cubs). The winner will be announced on Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. ET.

Wood slashed .256/.350/.475 with an .825 OPS, 38 doubles, 31 home runs and 94 RBIs in 157 games.

Among NL outfielders, he tied for first in doubles, ranked third in extra-base hits (69), tied for third in homers, ranked fourth in RBIs and fifth in walks (85) and hits (153). Wood ranked first among all MLB players in strikeouts (221).

He was one of only three players (and one of two NL outfielders) to record 30 home runs, 35 doubles and 15 stolen bases this season.

Wood’s performance at the plate goes far beyond the cumulative numbers. The lefty-hitting 6-foot-7 slugger demonstrated head-turning power throughout the season. He ranked in the 98th percentile of all players in exit velocity and hard-hit percentage.

Wood led the NL with 56 balls batted over 110 mph. He trailed only reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge in the category.

Wood also paced NL outfielders with 15 homers mashed at more than 110 mph. His 116.3 mph home run on April 23 against the Orioles tied Bryce Harper’s 2017 mark for hardest-hit home run by a Nationals player in the Statcast era (since 2015).

Wood’s two farthest-hit home runs of the year traveled 451 feet. He crushed 24 dingers in the first half of the season and earned his first All-Star selection and invitation to the Home Run Derby. After struggling to replicate that in August, Wood heated up at the end of the season with four homers in the final five games.

Wood tallied 58 hits versus left-handed pitchers, good for third among all lefty batters and the most in team history (2005-present). He was the first Nats player since Alfonso Soriano in 2006 to record 30 homers and at least 15 stolen bases.

Wood is in contention to become the 11th Nationals player to win a Silver Slugger and the first since Soto in 2021.