James Wood, the rising outfielder for the Washington Nationals, has officially announced his participation in the upcoming Home Run Derby, scheduled for July 14 at Truist Park, Atlanta. Joining him are MLB stars Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves and Cal Raleigh from the Seattle Mariners, who leads the league with 33 home runs. Wood has made a significant impact this season with 22 home runs, including 12 that have surpassed 110 mph in exit velocity, ranking second in the league behind Shohei Ohtani.

At just 22 years old, Wood is making history as the third Nationals player to compete in the Derby, following in the footsteps of Juan Soto and Bryce Harper. Notably, he has demonstrated impressive power by hitting four home runs that traveled over 445 feet, showcasing his potential as a future star.