Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
In preparation for Monday's T-Mobile Home Run Derby, Nationals star James Wood filled American Family Field with the soothing sounds of bat crushing ball. And thanks to Drew Rossi, the club's bullpen catcher, we got an up-close feel for the sounds and sights of what's to come at Atlanta's Truist Park.
Rossi wore a camera on his mask for Wood's practice session, offering unique point-of-view perspective from behind the plate. And if it's any indication, the sweet-swinging 22-year-old is going to put on quite a show.
The 6-foot-7 Wood, who had 24 homers entering play on Saturday, said he just wants to have fun at the Derby. "I'm not really gonna take it too serious, you know?” Wood said when it was announced he would participate.
We're gonna call him on that bluff. These dingers he destroyed in Milwaukee looked very serious. From the vantage point of Rossi, who barely had to catch any balls here, you can see first-hand why Wood was intentionally walked four times in one game. The first swing in the reel is a sight to behold -- the ball seems to vaporize out of sight. On a few other swings, Rossi offers some simple words of praise:
Homer: "Yep" ... Homer: "Yep."
There's a reason the lefty-swinging slugger may be the Derby favorite.