How James Wood became a stabilizing force in the Nationals’ season of upheaval by ‘sticking to’ his plan

Atlanta – Scott Boras was standing between his two customers, beige suit jacket and solid skin on Monday afternoon. He looked at his right and left by Mackenzie Gore and James Wood, both were going to play in their first star game. They represented the foundation of the young civil team, but also another expansion of his tree in porous superstars.

Boras always gives himself grounds for players who have presented him. He saw a young man Alex Rodriguez with a storm occupied the league. He made deals for Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez. He saw that children with bright eyes became the fearless adults of all time. He knows what Superstancom is like.

Gor proved to him that there may be a 3.02 era of 190, which took place in 138 fighters 110.

Wood is different. Players like her don’t come too often.

“They aren’t really,” Boras told CBS Sports.

In a season of history, the wood serves as a lighthouse of this team. So far, at least. Motfield just came out of his first star appearance and he started some of the best baseball strokes. He caused the first half of the monster together, cut .278 / .381 / .534. He already has 4.4 cubes. Washington saw Bryce Harper’s likes and Juan Soto spilled his dirt. Now the wood is in the area. The same stage, the same expectations, the same potential.

Nations have a MLB project number 1 and new GM, it is enough to be rebuilt.

Dayn Perry

In the second round of 2021 projects, the defenders were selected by the return of Blockbuster, Juan Soto’s trade in 2023. Undoubtedly, it can be descended as the best freight of the super preter, not just wood but also carpet and K. Abrams. Last season Abrams is sliced for the first time.287 / .353 / .483.

“We could not believe that James was a boy who was going to take the 62nd in general,” Boras said. “And I give [Padres president of baseball operations] AJ Preller and his staff are all the loans in the world to know that. And also [former Nationals president of baseball operations] Mike Rizzo and his staff to recognize it when they want to decide who they are their next privilege players. ”

That curve, Gor and Abrams, is what nations are hanging their hopes When they suffer in the nl East basement. It’s a trio that can serve as construction blocks to return to the quarrel if everything is going well, which is hardly guaranteed. But even then, the wood is in its stratosphere.

“I’m looking at the type of scalping,” said Philis all star. “She is a boy who is quiet. He won’t let things worry him. And it is obvious that he received his.

The wood is soft with sound but not power. He is ranked at the top of the league at the average speed (93.6 miles per hour). Just a person’s cruz, Aaron Judge, Shohyi Otyan, Soto, Schwarbori and Matt Olson classify a positive. The wood, which is 6-foot-7, 234 pounds, can also be moved to the 70th percentage, at the highest interest rate. But the bat is a separation. This is where it is voiced. His bat speaks. You also have to come to him. He pursues only 23.6% of the video, it is better than the League average, which soaries about 30%.

“I mean I think the biggest for me [this year] Just not letting bats. “Wood” said CBS Sports. I think it has made a big difference for me. ”

It should be easy to paint wood because the facility of the privilege moves forward. He is from Olne, Maryland, only 20, and the way there is such a miles, he spent his first two years in high school high school. This is not only where he plays. It’s home. But citizens allow both Harpi and Soto to get out of the door, one is free, one. Two generations of talents, which eventually obtained by the competitors of the personalized division. They are also Boras customers. Nurds have a vertical problem. Recently, Rizzo left his front office, and Dane Martinez also shown the door, leaving the license without a stable hand manager’s chair or front office. The project is also their friend.

Rizzo’s shot surprised Boras.

“No,” he replied. “Because I think that if you look at every # 1 project we had in Washington, be it [Stephen] Strasbourg … or Harper, turned out to be those who supposed to be. And I give a Risezo loan to understand the players. But when you don’t [invest in the draft]Do you suffer? These projects are found to be the basis of the World Cup in Washington. So, when you don’t take the best players, you are more important to make money than the north, I can demonstrate you in the project, it is usually a monstrous mistake. “

It is unknown whether citizens plan to extend the wood on a long deal, or if they have already deceived the theme. Boras will not put a number of what he thinks the wood can get. It’s too far away in the line. It is very difficult to predict.

“Don’t you really talk about markets when the player is in a performance model,” Boras said. “Everything I know James is doing things at his age that few people do. And when you see it doing it at a number of ages.

So far the wood performs in his hard weight category.